Hobbies and Crafts

Ah now Ann, Las Vegas that's somewhere different all together.

I really didn't want to go there but was hooked withing ten minutes of arriving. I just loved it, the tackier the better !!! I couldn't believe that we could spentd a week just wandering around different Casinos and the fact that it cooled down to only 105 degrees at 10pm !!!

Oooh, I want to go back, but Himself won't do long haul again.

Before I ask on another board, do you know if any French records are available on Ancestry ? I had a quick look and I could see few but wondered if I got a Wordwide membership I could see more. Going to the South of France has wound me up again to find out more about my Dad's family, especially as we actually drove along the road he lived in, pre war. I would like to try and find my cousins and only know a few basic facts about them. Need BMD.

M.

Hope Thomas didn't catch it Jane.

We loved looking on in the casinos in Vegas. Couldn't believe the old ladies who were there late at night and still there 5 oclock in the morning.

I would love to go to a Casino Maryanna ,just for the experience But not spend any money :-D.Fly on the wall :-D
Yes the Italian Lakes are just so beautiful .We have been to both Garda and Como ,but decided to go back to Como again.We are staying in Bellagio .Hotel du Lac.

We have had a young Green Woodpecker around today.It didn't look to good as one of it's wings was drooping.I followed it around and it didn't fly off but just ran.
Then a bit later I caught the cat chasing it :-S.I don't think he got it but don't know where it went.

Jane, no money spent at all in Monte !!! No danger of US breaking the bank !!

I am so jealous, I love the Italian Lakes, especially Como and Garda. Well actually, I love all of Italy.

M.

Did you have a bit of a flutter at the Casino Maryanna ? :-D.....38 degs far to hot for me.I would have wilted completely .
Just hope it is sensible temps when we go to Lake Como in a few weeks.Mid twenties will be hot enough for me.

We are up at the moment Ann, back to Somerset on Sunday,and probably to another jungle !!! .Although it will be a smaller and easier to manage one.

Leaving one of the boys here in charge of watering and picking..Hahaha.!!!!

M.

Thanks Maryanna, are you up here or sown there now? Glad you had a good holiday but which garden is the jungle (or both?)

Who turned the sun off ????

This time last week we were in ( Ahem ) Monte Carlo and it was 36 degrees. Today I would have put the heating on if Himself hadn't been here.

We have come back to a jungle and a baby Wood Pigeon, who, like his parents, is too fat to get off the ground.

Ann, I missed your birthday, a belated Happy Birthday. Glad you had a nice one.

M.

Yesterday we went to Gloucester. This was the second round of searching the Scrumpty sculpture trail. all is explained on the photos blog. The explanation is right at the bottom of the photos listed on the latest blog.

Noisy Toddlers here today too. :-D.All landing in a noisy flurry on the lawn ,eating loads of 'something' and then taking off again a few minutes later.I haven't seen them since.The Green Woodpecker was on the lawn when they arrived but it took no notice and just kept pecking lol

Thanks Ann.I think OH was quite pleased with that painting.hence the reason he said it was ok to send :-D.He has done some really nice ones recently but he just doesn't think he is that good.(silly man)

It's been raining quite hard here since the middle of the night but has recently stopped. I think the rain has bought all the insects to the surface as we suddenly have a garden full of birds. There is a family of blackbirds, mum and four fairly well grown young ones, a young looking robin, a great tit and a wren. First wren I have seen here. I've just been laughing at a couple of the blackbirds who have been having a bath in the little circular pond (a bit like a large washing up bowl) that we put in for Humphrey the frog. With the amount of rain we have had I shouldn't think they need a bath but they seem to be having a whale of a time.

Raining quite hard here today. It will do the gardens good and one less job for me having to water everywhere. It is much cooler too. Not what we want for August.

Ann I like your description of the Starlings...... it describes them perfectly ha ha.

The garden wall was filled with hedge sparrows when I drew the bedroom curtains this morning my first job was to feed them all, I hadn't realized there were so many around.

Jane your OH's Painting of Wadenhoe church is on the craft blog, it is beautiful thank you.

On the feeders this evening, a crow on the mixed feed and a collard dove on the niger seed. And a wood pigeon on the floor hoovering up spillage :-D

Kandj, I actually love watching starlings, they spend as much time squabbling among themselves as they do eating. They are like noisy toddlers.

Yes I have enjoyed spending the money so far, but still have some left as M&S didn't have anything much in on Saturday that wasn't in their sale. All stuff thatw as very tired.

Jane how sad for the family, just before their holiday too. I hope they will be able to go on and enjoy the holiday. The perils of living on a busy road.

It feels very autumnal here this morning so maybe we have seen the end of summer....... such as it was. Maybe the birds will return soon then. :-) :-)

Hello All
Glad that you enjoyed your birthday Ann. You are sure to enjoy spending your birthday money and vouchers on items that you will use.

Jane, that is such an horrific start to your niece and families holiday. Poor dog, and poor lady driver who ran over Bo. These freak accidents happen from time to time. I just hope that the little boy won't remember all the trauma and everyone can enjoy their holiday now.

We had loads of Starlings here today. Everything went from the ground feeder in seconds and about 8 Starlings settled on the window feeder fighting for the food. Needless to say that they emptied it very quickly and also managed to dislodge the window feeder in the process....... Starlings...... don't you just love them...... NOT!!

You have reminded me there Ann.I have a voucher from my daughter that she gave me last month for my birthday.it's for a facial.I must ring and make an appointment .I think I will have it done just before our holiday to Lake Garda next month.

Not much activity bird wise at the moment ,although the Blackbirds do a lot of running around the lawn early evenings.I'm sure having the cat must put some off from visiting the window feeder.The last few days he seems to have been sticking closer to home and we haven't had any rabbits brought back now for a few weeks :-D.My neighour said to send him along there as she has 6 in her garden the other day !!

My Neice ,OH and Children were 2 hours off from setting off to Turkey on Friday and the dogs were being put in the car to go to the kennels when tragedy happened.
Bo the Shar Pei somehow broke loose from his harness and jumped out .He was hit by a car and killed :-( :-( :-( My Nephew (in law) picked him up and ran with him to the Vets which was not far but Bo had died.He had open fractures and massive internal injuries.
What a terribly sad thing to happen just as everyone was all excited about going on holiday.The little girl didn't see Bo but Finn did and he was so traumatised.They nearly didn't go but my Sister said that they had to and that she would take care of the other dog rather than him go to Kennels .She already has 3 dogs !!.
I just hope that they will all be able to somehow enjoy their break .
I feel so sorry too for the poor lady who hit Bo.It was just a dreadful freak accident.
I know these things happen, but for it to happen just when it did was just so dreadful.

Thanks Kandj and how lovely you sing!

Yes had a great day, i tend to get money/ voucher gifts these days with family living away but I don't mind. I did get a rather nice brooch from my friend though. Money to spend from OH as he doesn't know what to buy and he knows I enjoy a good spend in hobbycraft. He did buy a lovely card though and he always chooses the words well.

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Ann
Happy birthday to you...... tra la la la la

Sorry, a bit late in the day but I hope you have enjoyed it received lots of cards
and some nice pressies today.

No rain at all here today. Perhaps it is going to come tomorrow?

Vera you and I are the same. Anything flying around too near and I get out of the way FAST!

Good to know that all went well for your lunch yesterday Jane. I can imagine that there was lots of chattering going on. Nice not to go back to cooking in your kitchen

Look forward to it Jane.

Vera still no rsin here to speak of.