Happy Birthday Sweetheart xxxx

Happy Birthday Marci have a wonderful day I am sorry I cant be there with you today xxxxxxxxxxx

In the Early Morning Light

Hi all, thanks for the kind words yesterday Mom and I are both feeling a lot better today. I have to go to the store to get Watercress for Sherpa, on the way back I stopped at the overlook to get a few early morning Autumn shots here are a few, I will get around some posts later. Have a great weekend;)

Good Morning all, its OK I am still alive LOL;)

Hi all, sorry if I worried a few of you by not being around, I had some emails from you so I know I have. 
Everything is OK, just a lot going on and not much interesting at the same time LOL. 

 If you remember I had what I thought was a cold a fe weeks ago, well its hung on and keeps coming back so I think its some sort of mild virus, anyway Mom seems to have it as well so we have not been very active the last couple of weeks.

Except for getting the garden ready for winter and this really is the busy time of year in a garden like mine getting all the shrubs cut back and shredding the waste. 

I was joking about the Tortoise he is not much bother just been spoiled by my cousin with hand feeding which I believe he does not want or need! So he is not getting that here and seems to be loving his new freedom. He is living in my conservatory as its already too cold for him outside and he has been very ill in the past and is not heavy enough to hibernate so he is kept active through the winter. 

He is a "Golden" Greek Tortoise - Testudo graeca. They are found in southern Spain, Eastern Europe, Northern Africa, and parts of Asia especially the Middle East. They are found in a variety of environments from seashore dunes to rocky mountain steppes but usually in very hot, dry and arid regions with high summer temperatures. 

They inhabit areas of sparse vegetation where they browse on grass and plant growth. 

This tortoise is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: VU - Vulnerable and is listed on CITES: Appendix II. 

The Greek Tortoise or Spur-Thigh Tortoise is small with most reaching only about 8 inches (20 cm), though there are occasional specimens reaching up to 12 inches (30 cm). Their coloration of the is not overly bright, but it is variable and attractive. A primary characteristic, as indicated by the name, are the 'spurs' found on their thighs; two small tubercles, one to each side of the tail. 

I still have a lot of work to do it the garden and with this bug its slow going. 

Also I guess I have having one of those "My Muse has gone walk about" moments, probably because my camera is broken, my long lens auto focus stopped working after the trip to Monkey World and I am expecting to be told I either need a new lens ( which now cost £500 / $1000) or it will be very expensive to fix, so I am not a happy bunny about that right now. 

To be honest I have not been blogging so much because I realized I was wasting so much time when we were back over on Multiply that I was neglecting things I also enjoyed in the "real world" and before the bug I had got back to a really great level of fitness out on my bike, so I doubt that I will ever be back posting at that level again.

I have some bulb planting to do in the garden today and if the weather holds we may head out to one of the country parks for a few hours and I might take a few shots with my other lenses. 

 Anyways, I hope your all well, have a great weekend, be safe and may your God be with you;)

Sorry I have not been around I have a visitor!!!

Also its the busiest time of year for me in the garden lots of Maintainance to do before Winter sets in, but its my guest who  has been the time graber!

He is Greek!

He is 66 years old

and 

A very finicky eater!

His name is Sherpa!

He has been my Cousins house guest since she was 4 years old, she will be 58 next birthday, she is a photographer as well and is off to China to photograph Panda in the wild for 3 weeks and she asked if Sherpa could visit with me while she was away and he has been keeping me busy. I will get around and visit as soon as I can. Thanks for all the kind comments on Images and Words have a great day;)

Images & Words -180 -Colors of your season

Autumn in the English Garden

Have a great weekend;)

Autumn in the English Garden.

Jim Cronin's Monkey World

James "Jim" Michael Cronin MBE (15 November 1951 – 17 March 2007) was the founder in 1987 of Monkey World in Dorset, England, a sanctuary for abused and neglected primates. 

He was widely acknowledged as an international expert in the rescue and rehabilitation of abused primates, and in the enforcement of international treaties aimed at protecting them from illegal trade and experimentation.

In 2006, Cronin was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for services to animal welfare. Cronin has also received the Jane Goodall Award.

Cronin died at the Cabrini Medical Center, Manhattan, New York, on 17 March 2007, following a brief battle with liver cancer. His wife Alison is now in charge of Monkey World.


Monkey World ( fully referred to as Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre) is a 65-acre (26.3 ha) ape and monkey sanctuary and rescue centre near Wool, Dorset, England. 

Set up in 1987 by the late Jim Cronin, and later operated by both him and his wife Alison, it was originally intended to provide a home for abused chimpanzees used as props by Spanish beach photographers, but is now home to many different species of primates.

Monkey World works with foreign governments to stop the illegal smuggling of wild primates.
The facility made the news in January 2008 with what The Guardian called "the world's biggest rescue mission of its kind," when it saved 88 capuchin monkeys from a laboratory in Santiago, Chile, where some of the animals had been kept in solitary cages for up to 20 years. 

The operation was carried out at the request of the laboratory, and with help from the Chilean Air Force, who flew the animals to Bournemouth airport with special permission from the British government.

In August 2010 Monkey World rescued a Bornean Orang-utan called Oshine from Johannesburg, South Africa. On December 7, 2010 Monkey World rescued an orphan baby Sumatran Orang-utan called Silvestre from a zoo in Spain. In January 2011, Monkey World rescued a chimpanzee named Kiki from Lebanon.

He ain't heavy!

Hi All

I seem to have picked up a bug so might not be around much the next few days, enjoy the rest of your week;)

View from the Quay

Christchurch Quay is a beautiful riverside open space in Christchurch town centre with a variety of events and facilities available throughout the year.Christchurch Quay has views of the 11th Century Priory and is the starting point for many water based activities. The large grass area is known as the Quomps and is perfect for a variety of activities including picnicking, relaxing, sports and games. The smaller paved area next to Place Mill is known as the Town Quay.  We ensure the unique character and heritage of the Quay is maintained in harmony with the facilities and leisure opportunities available. For more information about Christchurch.Christchurch Quay operated commercially from the thirteenth century until the early 1900s. The River Stour has since been used by leisure craft. The Quomps, a name recorded from the 1700s, is historically used to describe a marshy area. The Priory fish ponds were located here and whilst subject to regular flooding, the area was almost certainly grazed by livestock. River system improvements to the lower Stour have removed much of this old landscape.Place Mill has medieval stonework and Tudor and eighteenth century brickwork. The mill was used for cleaning and thickening cloth and grinding corn until 1908. It was then used as a boatshed for 70 years before being purchased by the council and carefully restored.

Avon Heath Country Park - Southern Section

Yesterday Mom and I Went over to one of our favorite spots, Yesterday Mom and I Went over to one of our favorite spots, Avon Heath Country Park. 



We had never visited the south section of the Park which is separated from the North by a major road. 
We walked along the Bridle way and into the South Park. It has a completely different character to the North.

This slide show follows our walk in sequence I hope you enjoy it, have a great Sunday;)

View from the Edge: Matchams View Point Dorset England

Matchams View Point Dorset England, looking out across the Avon Valley to the New Forest in the distance, in the first picture Hengistbury Head can be seen in the far distance on the coast

Good morning. Have a great weekend;)

Final Harvest

Despite the tomato crop being beset with blight I think we have done very well this year over 25 LB of Tomato's not including those already eaten. Some for freezing, damaged ones for mixed tomato chutney, cherry tomato's for eating like fruit now, Green tomatos to ripen in Conservatory. Its better than I expected.



Red and Green Tomato Chutney

• 4 pounds ripe tomatoes
• 1 (1 inch) piece fresh ginger root
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 3/4 cups white sugar
• 1 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 onions, diced
  
  
  Directions
  
  
  Puree tomatoes with ginger and garlic in a food processor or blender.
  
  Place tomato mixture, sugar, vinegar, onions, and golden raisins in a large saucepan. Season with mixed spice, chili powder, paprika, and curry paste. Simmer over medium heat until thick (at least an hour more like 2). 
  
  
  
  Heat jars in oven, fill with chutney and seal, keep a check on the jars, but it should last a whole year is sealed well. 
• Enjoy;)

• 1/4 cup golden raisins
• 2 teaspoons mixed spice
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 pinch paprika
• 1 tablespoon curry paste

Barry Haynes Photography Web Site

I just revamped my web site if you would be interested in taking a look, I would appreciate it;)

http://bhaynesphotography.smugmug.com/

Have a great weekend;)

Sit a while and enjoy the view

Autumns Chill

Autumns Chill

Clear night herald  Autumns Chill.

Silver Moon plough's blue sky's, still.

Warm breath floats like morning mist.

The wonders nature does enlist!

Morning dew hangs on spider web.

Festooning pine like gossamer thread. 

Sun bathed world shimmers Gold.

A wealth of wonders to unfold.

Long shadows cast there eerie shade.

Leaves turn red in Forest glade.

Silence sits upon the land.

Awaiting the touch of Winters hand.

                                       bAZ©2012

Creative Challenge #224 - Fool

The Road Less Traveled?

I never could run with the crowd LOL!