Basset and a stick: a photo study

Chewing is a serious business

Fortnum is always a wonderful photographic model.  I wanted to practise locking the focus on my camera and he was happy to oblige.  The light was far from perfect as the sun was starting to set behind the hill but nevertheless I’m pleased with how things turned out. I should point out that Fortnum loves [...]

Forest walk: a photo study

Waterfall

Adventure is not my middle name any more.  It may have been 20 years ago but for now I’m getting less and less adventurous.  And before my father leaves a comment – I know, it’s a sign of getting older! Today was a day I wanted a new adventure though.  To take the bassets on [...]

I’ve found a believable book!

believers

It’s a long time since I laughed out loud at a book.  It’s even longer since I cried from laughing out loud at a book.  But last weekend I was convulsed with hysterics.  You know that belly ache sort of laugh that just takes over your body like a convulsion that won’t stop and when [...]

Would you DIY this?

Driveway

You notice nature so much more living in the country.  Not just the birds, bees and flora but geography and geology.  Most of all you notice the weather and it’s impacts on the environment.  Not just that the lawn can get waterlogged, the trees perk up and the chickens flee to their hen house for [...]

The glow of autumn brings mists again

Mornings of mist and mellow fruitfulness are a joy to behold at the moment. The way that the sun peeks over the hills and the mist snakes its way along the valleys.  Today I grabbed the camera bag before I left on the commuter run to take MT to the station determined to see if [...]

Holidays at home – the best of everything

bassets-being-neighbourly

Every Easter since we’ve been in New Zealand we’ve spent the holiday at Cape South in Hawkes Bay.  Each year it’s brought us a much needed break.  This year we decided to stay at home and I’m so glad we did. The only problem with staying home is that there are always chores to be [...]

The great potager experiment

Leek

I have loads of vegetable gardening books but since starting the potager I’ve hardly opened them.  One or twice to check out distances and complications but otherwise my vegetable growing experience this year has been based on trial and error rather than following a plan. This was probably a mistake.  I’ve been wondering this weekend [...]

Snow, holly berries and Easter – hmm, something’s not right?

I know I’ve said this already but I do think we’re in for a really hard winter.  The snow is already on the Tararuas, the holly berries are getting redder and more plentiful.  Today I found myself seeing snow on the mountains and holly in the fields, thinking winter.  The contrast with the bluest of [...]

How bassets can behave at the beach!

The last time we took the bassets to Paekakariki Beach they were mere puppies still.  My how they have changed.  They did us proud.  So well behaved with other people on the beach, although not well behaved enough yet to let them off the leads all the time. Maybe for their next trip to the [...]

Paekakariki Beach: a photostudy

Pines

It’s a holiday weekend so we decided to do things you do on holiday. Sun, sea, picnics and ice cream.  As MT so eloquently put it – a timeless pastime. To be honest we didn’t do the picnic thing but we will for our next trip to Paekakariki Beach as we found some amazingly secluded [...]