A Visitor

Bilbo's young friend Pip came to stay with him yesterday, she is only 14 months old but is very friendly and adaptable. She brought her own bed with her and is having a little lie down while she weighs the situation up.


Life is good, two dogs having fun together in a doggy sort of way. They spent a lot of the day wrestling and playing with squeaky toys which belong to Bilbo but usually never get played with. It was like having two little children, I found myself calling out 'what are you two up to now?' and 'You're getting too excited, settle down and be quiet'. They were both very good though, there was no trouble and Bilbo loved having someone to play with. I think he's really missed her today.


There was alternative entertainment on offer for some of the time though, Kaitlyn and her daddy came over and we went to Bakewell to see the ducks on the river - armed, of course, with bread to feed them.


There were some enthusiastic volunteers for the consuming of bits of dry bread - including Kaitlyn:) It quickly became obvious that daddy and granny would have to feed the ducks while Kaitlyn watched. Three of them, including this one, would eat from our hands. Kaitlyn loved it as my three did when they were young. The little prairie bonnet that Kaitlyn is wearing originally belonged to her Aunty Jules, I bought it for Jules on our first visit to the US when she was also a year old. I saved it because I loved it but never thought of it actually being worn again.
Poor Cousin Gabriel wasn't having much of a fun day though, he had his first set of immunization shots yesterday and has reacted quite badly to them and has been feeling a very poorly little boy. He was much better when I rang this evening though.


This lovely five arched bridge over the River Wye is 700 years old.


These ducks are just common mallard but when the sun shines on the drakes' spring plumage it shows how very lovely the colours are. The feathers on their heads are a mixture of irridescent greens and blues. The blue only becomes obvious if the sun shines on it at the right angle.


A new cardigan for Gabriel.


I daren't even tell you how long this sampler has been on the frame, it's months since I last put any stitches into it but now I've decided to get it finished finally. It's progressed a little since the photo was taken and I'd like to get it completed by next week. There's a space for initials and date - good job I didn't put them in as I worked, the date would have said 1990 something I think!


For those of you still awaiting spring:

Spring is sudden; it is her quality,
However carefully we watch for her,
However long delayed
The green in the winter'd hedge
The almond blossom
The piercing daffodil,
Like a lovely woman late for her appointment
She's suddenly here,taking us unawares,
So beautifully annihilating expection
That we applaud her punctual arrival. Gerald Bullett(1893-1958)