The Long and Winding Road

Hi all I hope you have had a great weekend? Mum and I managed to get out again for a long walk, we both felt much better and walked for over two and a half hours at a trail at the Moors Valley Country Park we had not explored, I took some shots along the way and thought you might enjoy them.

Have a great day and enjoy the rest of your weekend;)

Afternoon Delight

Hi all, still getting back on my feet but feeling 100% better than I was, I managed to get out for a walk yesterday afternoon and caught the last of the autumn colour in the last of the afternoon light, it was beautiful. Here are a few of the shots I took I hope you enjoy them. 

 I am planning on catching up on your posts tomorrow with my morning coffee, until then have a great day;)

Good Morning All

Just a quick note to let you know I am back to full health and to thank you all for the kind words while I was sick. I have to admit 5 weeks is the longest I have ever been unwell in my adult life and I do not recommend it LOL;) 

But now I have a huge back log of work to do around the house to get ready for winter particularly in the garden. So I am still not going to be around much for the next couple of weeks.

Here in Britain we have something called the "Heart Club" and they organize health walks for people who are recovering from heart problems or have been advised by their doctor to reduce weight and get more exercise  I have volunteered as a health walk leader and was on a course at the end of this past week and am waiting to be advised when I lead my first walk I am excited about this as I can be doing something I love doing and also giving something back at the same time.


They also do health cycle rides for people who have progressed through the health walks to a point where they need more vigorous exercise. I am joining one of the rides tomorrow morning to see if I would be interested in leading some rides as well, group riding is something I have never participated in so I am undecided if I want to get involved, but the ride tomorrow should help me decide,


I hope you are all well and I hope I can get back into catching up on your posts over the next couple of weeks. Have a great week and msy your God be with you;)

Lest We Forget

Hi all, feeling much better today

I think I will have shaken off this Bronchitis by the weekend. 

I took a short walk at the Lake yesterday and took a few Autumn Reflections. I hope you enjoy them.

I cant wait to get my energy back and be outside again everyday, enjoy the rest of your week;)

Happy Sunday

Hi all, Thanks for all the Kind words yesterday. it is a slow process getting over Bronchitis, I felt exhausted again yesterday evening after just a short trip to the store for groceries, I guess its gona take its time ;) 

 Its very frustrating when your an active outside person like me being restricted, but I guess I have to accept that's how its going to be for the next few weeks. 

 I will have to get out for some air now and then but I just have to accept I will feel worse for a while afterwards, but that's what I need to do. 

 I will get around you blogs as I can I have started to feel more like sitting at the computer for a while. Have a great Sunday, Baz;)

Have a great weekend

Hi all still not feeling great but improving each day, I found a few shots I took when I went out for a breath of fresh air the other day.



I managed to get out yesterday for a short walk as well, felt tired afterwards but enjoyed the fresh air and managed to get some shots of the wonderful Heathland Autumn Colours





Have a great weekend;)

Just got bad from the Doctor

Hi all, 
Just got bad from the Doctor, the good news is I am already on the mend, the bad news I have Acute Bronchitis and it has a  6 - 8 week  duration so it could take another 4 weeks to clear up, its a virus and there is no treatment other than reducing the symptoms and rest. So its continuing with the cold and flu drinks with decongestant  and rest and keep warm for the next few weeks.

It looks like mom just had a bad cold so that's good news as well.

Doc said I am lucky because of my underlying good health and fitness, and it could have been much worse than than it is. 

He said that not re-hydrating enough after exercise could have left me vulnerable to the infection as 10% de-hydration can suppress the immune system by 25%!!!!

Sorry not to get around to your posts but to be honest I do not have the energy to sit here and type.

I hope all is well in your worlds thanks for the kind words, thoughts and prayers to those friends who have endured one of the worst storms in living memory, I hope the road back to normality is a quick one;)

Be safe and may your God be with you;)

Hi All

First off thoughts and prayers to all my friends in the Eastern States may you all be safe and your property undamaged as this huge storm subsides.

As its been going, this bug eased over the weekend and came back with a vengeance on Monday. I called the doc and so many  people are sick I cant see him until tomorrow morning, its frustrating, because I am not really ill and not well either its like constantly having a head cold and cough and no energy.

Mom seems to have it as well she stayed in bed yesterday and feels better if my doctor gives be antibiotics tomorrow we will call her doctor and tell him what treatment my Doc has put me on.

Be safe wherever you are have a great week again thoughts and prayers for those enduring the storm  

Hi all

This bug is driving me nuts if I sit around and rest I am fine but as soon as I make an effort to do anything even light exercise the cold type symptoms come back, I did 30 mins on the bike yesterday and have the sniffs and am congested again today. If its not clear by Monday I guess I need to see the Doc and see if I need antibiotics.

Anyways the good news is its the weekend have a great one and I will get around some of your posts in the morning with my coffee;)

To Everything There is a Season

January to June 2012

A Two Year Tale

Marci and I first met in October 2010 in Washington DC, its been an amazing time. I made a video to celebrate the adventures we had along the way and in anticipation of many more to come ;)

Hi all

Wet and miserable here still not feeling 100% and totally uninspired to post or shoot at the moment, but I will when I have something worth posting have a great week;)

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!

Reflections of Autumn 2012

The Reflecting Pool is on of my favorite locations to shoot, but I recently discovered Moors Lake and its fast becoming a favorite of mine.

Seeing Autumn reflected in its waters was beautiful.

I took Mom for her afternoon walk around the lake and took the opportunity to capture some more shots here are a few that I liked I hope you enjoy them as well, have a great day;)


 

Return to the reflecting Pool

I dont know if your the same, there are just some places I can go shoot over and over again and never get quite the same shot twice? The Reflecting Pool is one of those places for me

I took Mitch to shoot there and I went back with Mom on Saturday and the water was like glass and I was able to get closer to the waters edge and get some really nice shots, here are the best of the bunch I hope you enjoy them, have a great day;)

Images And Words 178 ~ At The Gates

At The Gate.

Its the gate we fear to enter.

The one we dread it seems

The on we cast our eyes from

It fills our darkest dreams

In the end no choice avails us,

Slip the lock

Up the step

To the Hill of endless dreams

bAZ©2012

Upton House Gardens Dorset England

I had already visited these gardens but I knew Mitch would love to shoot there, because of the wonderful Macro opportunities.

His camera takes amazing macro shots and when combined with his "photographers eye", the results are astounding, I am looking forward to seeing his shots.

This is a small selection of the shots I took in the gardens on our visit;)

Upton House Dorset UK

The Second Day Mitch was here we visited Upton Country Park, these are some of the Shots of Upton House.

Upton House sits in the award winning grounds of Upton Country Park.  It is a magnificent Georgian Grade II* listed building.

Woodland

Mitch and I headed out the first day he was here  to the Avon Valley and took some shots in the woods and out on the heathland, it had been quite wet but we were lucky enough to get a sunny afternoon. It was a great day.

Good Morning all

I hope you had a great week? 

Mitch and I had a great time it rained quite a bit but we managed to get out and get some good shots, we went to Upton Gardens one day and Mitch was in seventh heaven with all the flowers and insects for his Macro shots , I am sure he got some amazing ones and you will be seeing them soon I am sure.

Unfortunately he developed a back problem the day before he had to go home so we could not do much Thursday I hope he is OK today. 

He headed out about mid morning yesterday, I am sure he is having a lay in today. It was great to catch up with him again and I really did enjoy the week.

I will try and catch up on as many posts as I can over the weekend;)

Have a great weekend;)

Good Morning

Mitch and I have been haveing a great time even though its been a bit wet! I wil be back up posting regularly in acouple of days;)

Good Morning

Good Morning have a wonderful Sunday, heading out to visit with my cousins for Sunday Lunch;)

Images And Words Week 177 - Make Your Own Painting

Images And Words Week 177 - Make Your Own Painting

Reflecting on the Season

If winter is slumber and spring is birth, and summer is life, then autumn rounds out to be reflection. It's a time of year when the leaves are down and the harvest is in and the perennials are gone. Mother Earth just closed up the drapes on another year and it's time to reflect on what's come before.

This is the set the painting was made from: Reflecting on Autumn.

The Late Comer?

The weather has been so terrible this summer 

most small birds lost their young because of 

the wet weather and have nested again 

this little fellow is really late in the season!

In to the Archive: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

A few years back on a Trip to visit friends in Georgia and Florida I took a shot side trip to visit an area I had always wanted to explore, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

In southern Georgia and northern Florida there is a very special place, one of the oldest and best preserved freshwater systems in America. Native Americans called it Okefenoka, meaning “Land of the Trembling Earth”. Now this place, where earth, air, fire and water continuously reform the landscape, is preserved within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, created in 1937 to protect wildlife and for you to explore.

The Okefenokee offers so much, one could spend a lifetime and still not see and do everything. The refuge is vast, with almost 402,000 acres (that’s roughly 300,000 football fields in size) of cypress forest, marsh, lakes and islands. Filled with alligators, Sandhill cranes, red-cockaded woodpeckers and over 400 other species of animals, it is a wonderful place to learn about the wildlife of Georgia and Florida. The longleaf pine, cypress, carnivorous sundews and other plants make up different habitats from dry upland forests to open wetlands. Golden sunsets and thundering storms allows one to experience this magical place at its most beautiful and most awe-inspiring moments.

There are many ways to explore the Okefenokee. Guided boat tours take visitors through cypress forests, historic canals and open prairies. Water trails and platforms allow people to canoe for the day or stay overnight deep within the 354,000 acre wilderness. Winding boardwalks and trails lead through unique habitats to observation towers and viewing platforms. Opportunities for nature photography, hunting and fishing are readily available. One can even drive a car or ride a bike to a restored homestead to discover how “swampers” once made their home here.