Six word Saturday

Tags

Algarve, azulejos, beach, Portugal, Tavira

And ten in Portugal with Michael

Following on from my last Six word Saturday, my feet have just about touched the ground and it’s Michael’s turn for a holiday.  Lucky me gets to go too, of course!

Dad is still in Poland, sitting in Uncle Jakub’s garden if it’s sunny, and playing dominos.  While I know he’s in good hands, it seems like a good time to escape for a little sunshine of our own.  If you’ve seen O is for okropny and the Ojcow Valley you’ll know the weather wasn’t always kind in Poland.

I’ll be sharing more Polish tales on my return but for now it’s back to my postcard collection.

Exactly why I love the Algarve so- it’s pretty as a picture.

I’ll soon be strolling in the riverbank gardens again.

Checking out a few more churches

Especially the azulejos in Igreja da Misericordia

And you know most of my evenings will be spent beside this bridge.

Not hard to see what keeps taking me back, is it?  And I haven’t even mentioned the beaches!

I’m catching up with as many of you as I can before I leave tomorrow evening.  It’s Mother’s Day isn’t it, so have a good one!  I’ll be frantically cooking, ironing and restocking the freezer for our son, but what a lovely present tomorrow evening will bring.  Take care, all!

Thanks Cath for hosting Six word Saturday.  Don’t forget to check out the other entries on Show My Face.  Just click on the header or the link.

Six word Saturday

Tags

Dad, Krakow, Mariacki Church, Poland, postcards

Nine days in Poland with Dad

 

It almost didn’t happen because when I started to check us in online, I realised that Dad’s passport runs out on 30th April, 2013- the precise date we travel to Poland.  Thank goodness for the days of online check-in.  Otherwise, we might have been at the airport!  A swift dash to the Passport Office in Durham has rectified all, and we are good to go.

Here was Krakow

Veit Stoss Altar, Mariacki Church

Gilded wood panels of the Altar in close up

Courtyard of the Jagellonian University

Professor’s room in Collegium Maius

And in complete contrast, a postcard that is very special to me, and seems appropriate for this time of year.  It was given to me by my Aunt Anna, who is no longer with us.

Good health from the mountains

I won’t be about next week as I’m a very low tech traveller.  In any case I will be working hard at my abysmal Polish.  Wish me luck!

Don’t forget to visit Cate at Show My Face at check out this week’s Six word Saturdays.  Just click on the link or the header.

Six word Saturday

Tags

Guisborough, sculptures, Spring, wood carving, woodland walk

A woodland walk in Spring sunshine

Not feeling too much like talking this week, so I’m letting the photos speak for me.  Click on a photo to start the gallery rolling, if you’d like.

Guisborough forest loop

These woods are full of creatures

Mr. Fox

Some hedgehogs who forgot to hibernate

Squirrels are always cute!

You can sit awhile on a butterfly

So new, she hasn’t weathered in yet!

Some spares

Newcomers?

Poor wise owl’s going nowhere.

The woodcutter’s cottage?

Disgusted that nobody had an apple!

The deer doesn’t look too happy either

This chap has to earn his keep.

The owl family have simply dozed off!

Back to the Woodland Information Centre

For a craft

Or two!

Cate at Show My Face will be glad to have your company.  My thanks to her for being our kind hostess.  I actually didn’t go much past my Six Words this week!

Six word Saturday

Tags

fun, Greek Islands, memories, postcards, Rhodes, Zante

What do you do for fun?

My idea of fun is creating interesting travel-related blog posts. (well, trying to!)  It’s bordering on the obsessive some days but it’s all that’s kept me sane while I’ve waited (and waited) for warmer days to arrive.  Some of you may know that I’ve been taking a trip back in time and reliving the past in ”A tale or two : my Greek Odyssey”.

In those days I used to keep a diary on the back of my postcard collection.  It served two purposes : preserving the memories, and providing a few reliable photos in case the holiday snaps weren’t up to much.  While I’ve been writing this series I’ve had to dig out the postcards to check a few facts. (the holidays were 20+ years ago)  I thought that this Saturday I might share a few with you.

The island of Zakynthos (Zante)

Neos Marmaras in Halkidiki

Time for an ouzo- speaks for itself really

Mandraki harbour on Rhodes

The beautiful island of Symi, near Rhodes

A slightly too rosey Rhodes Town, but I like it!

I love maps!  Bizarre for someone who excels in getting lost

Last but not least, Melissani Lake on Kephalonia

The last postcard is the only one I’ve shared already.  Mostly our photographs were good enough, but on the lake we were too busy just looking, in awe.  Hope you enjoyed these.  Trigger any memories?

If you’re interested in the series at all, click on the Categories box in my sidebar and you will get a dropdown menu. Select “A tale or two : my Greek Odyssey” and it’ll take you there.  Wordpress is clever sometimes, isn’t it?  Meantime, let’s go and see Cate at Show My Face and see how she’s feeling this week.

Six word Saturday

Tags

Appalachian music, beach, clifftops, Crimdon Dene, dunes, Hartlepool Headland, jig dolls

How to dance a jig doll!

Sssh, whisper it, but I think we may just have turned the corner into Spring?  Yesterday I spotted a hint of pink blossom in the trees, and the curves of crocuses throughout the town were valiantly trying not to shiver.  I was still caught in a shower of sleet midweek, but I’ve also been out, striding along clifftops and beaches under wonderfully breezy blue skies.  Want a quick look?

The beach at Hartlepool Headland, with derelict pier in the background

The retreating tide

Approaching the pier

My sea monster

The dunes back of the beach

The habitat of the dunes

The good old days of Crimdon Dene, resort?

The caravan park that remains

Not a good place to throw the stick for your dog

And home, over the stream

Highlight of my week?  Dancing a jig doll!  It was totally unexpected.  At my first ever visit to our local branch of the U3A, the entertainment was a lovely couple, Ron and Pat Keady.  With Ron on guitar and vocals, Pat demonstrated her versatility and love of Appalachian music and dance forms.  The Auto Harp (or dulcimer) was unfamiliar to me, but I recognised the Jew’s Harp and spoons, of course.  When the paddle and the jig dolls appeared, I was enthralled.  Even more so when they were passed around for the audience to try.  Bashing away at the paddle, I thought I did a very creditable version of “Jambalaya”- for a beginner!

What fun!  I think I’m putting one on my Christmas list.  If you have absolutely no idea what I’m talking about, the YouTube video links below will demonstrate.  You will love the dog! (second clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzNEgMNV8UM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwuRfGDOrsY

Don’t forget to visit Cate at Show My Face this sunny Saturday, and share your week.  Hope it was a good one?  Click on the button for my previous 6WS’s.

Six word Saturday

Tags

cards, Easter, eggs, flowers, friends, poodle

Happy Easter from a generous friend

I “won” this beautiful floral arrangement as a raffle prize at my friend Kath’s house on Thursday.  Traditionally we have a Girl’s night at her home in Newcastle just before Christmas, but last year we had to defer, and it became an Easter celebration.  As if to make up for lost time, Kath pulled out all the stops and threw her heart and soul into the evening.

The mantelpiece was adorned with woolly lambs and fluffy bunnies, and giant pastel Ikea eggs, which rattle mysteriously, have accompanied us home as an Easter “surprise”.  There was Pimms in a punch bowl of fruit and mint, and heaps of the most delicious food and drink.  Kath was aided and abetted in the kitchen by partner, Trevor, and I musn’t forget the star turn- Koffee, their large chocolate brown poodle, who delights in raiding handbags.

My own home is less flamboyantly decorated, but the hearth has a splash of Easter colour, and the mantlepiece a card or two from my Polish family.

Just a few more hellebores, in retreat from our chilly garden

Easter blessings from Poland

 

Hope you will all have a blessed and peaceful Easter, surrounded by family and wonderful friends like these.  Thank you so much, Kath.  You made it very special.

Joyce, me, Janice, Mary, Mamie, Kath and Joan (that’s my floral arrangement!)

Join in with Six word Saturday by clicking on the header or the link to Cate at Show My Face.

Six word Saturday

Tags

follies, Hardwick Hall Country Park, lake, Sedgefield, statue, temple

Pull up a chair and sit?

Well, maybe not today.  It’s not the warmest!

I used a photo of Hardwick Hall Country Park in one of my posts recently.  It proved quite popular, and it occurred to me that I’d never given you the full guided tour.  Very remiss of me.  Lingering weather, it’s not, but if you’re passing Sedgefield with some spare bread for the ducks in your knapsack….

It’s a park of follies and eccentricities

Wide open, so you feel the chill on a Winter’s day

But, with a hint of sun, the reflections are nice

Some of the follies provide shelter for your view across the lake

The birds will carry on, oblivious, till you rustle that bag

While the temple looks on, stoically.

As you walk around the lake, you catch glimpses of the tower

And the statue of Neptune

The old bridge provides some of the best views

It took a while in the building but the modern cafe and exhibition center is a welcome addition to the park.  A bowl of homemade soup goes down well on a Winter’s day, and in Summer you can sit outside and observe your youngsters clamber on the climbing frame.  The village of Sedgefield is just a walk away.

The Dun Cow Inn on Front St. has always been a good grub pub.

Hope you enjoyed our Saturday stroll, though, to be fair, a very brisk walk would be more appropriate today.  Cate at Show My Face has indulged me, as usual.  It is my afternoon treat to visit her page and check out the other entries.  Use the links to accompany me?

Six word Saturday

Tags

bowl, display, flowers, Hellebores, Spring, water

How I like to display hellebores

 

Hellebore heads floating in a bowl of water

 

They have such a pretty face, but they’re shy!  I love to snip the heads off and float them on a bowl of water, then I can openly admire these jewels of colour.  Especially when the weather is too cool and damp to venture into the garden.  They grow quite prolifically so they should last me a while.

Share six words of your own?  Cate at Show My Face will be a gracious hostess, as ever.  Join her via the link or the header. I’ve amassed quite a few now, and you can see those by clicking on the button below.

Six word Saturday

Tags

almond blossom, cactus, countryside, crocus, iris, Portugal, wild orchid

First signs?  We dare to hope!

I just looked back at my 6WS for this weekend last year, and sure enough, it was full of crocuses (or even, crocii?).  It’s been pretty miserable here the last week or so, but the flowers don’t seem to have noticed.  A garden just around the corner produces the most beautiful tiny deep purple iris each Spring, but you have to be quick- they only last a few of days.

Purple iris

I thought we might take a stroll through some Portuguese countryside to get us in the mood?  It arrives a little earlier there.

First we’ll cross a shallow ford

A pause to capture these.  Sorry, but I don’t know their name.

A mother and her lamb view us with some caution

And then the hamlet of Malhada do Peres, enhanced by the almond blossom

Beautiful in close-up

The river bed is pretty dry, even this early

Then there’s this little jewel- a wild orchid

Obviously bird lovers live here (or builders!)

I’ve never seen these fruit on a cactus, either

All in all, a treasure trove, I think you’ll agree?  What does Spring herald in your part of the world?

As usual, I’m sharing my Six word Saturday, courtesy of our kind hostess Cate, on Show My Face.  Click on the header or links to join in or view the other entries.  You know you want to!

Six word Saturday

Tags

funeral, honeymoon, love, snow, Venice, wedding

From a wedding to a funeral

Last week I shared with you the joy of my daughter’s Victorian style wedding.  On Monday the husband of a lifelong friend died, after she had cared for him at home, very courageously.  On Thursday we attended a moving ceremony, and said our goodbyes.  So much can change in a week.

All week long I’ve been wondering if I should share these six words, which have played again and again in my head.  Yesterday evening I spent some time looking at my daughter’s photos of her Venice honeymoon.  When “we girls” were together after the funeral we talked about “old times”, as we always do.  And, of course, the subject of Lisa and the wedding was raised.  She sometimes lay in her carry-cot at the “Girl’s Nights” we held in each other’s homes back then.  We still do, though the children are long grown.  I felt that I  needed to share these six words this week, and to share with them a couple of her beautiful photographs.

Lisa in Venice

The Palazzo Ducale, covered in snow

Did you ever see more beautiful rooftops?

These masked revellers were beautiful in white too

And wasn’t this lady pretty in pink?

But, of course, it all comes back to Lisa

Life is short.  Love while you can.

Join with Cate at Show My Face to share your six words for this week, and to share in the lives of others.  Click on the header or the link.