Thursday 28 August 2014

August 2014 Instagramy Post

I stayed in town for August as I am going away in September.
Staycations are underrated especially in London when August is one of the few months where it is nice to enjoy the park and my new balcony.

I have been rubbish at logging events this month so here are the pics I did take.

We took Millie on a country weekend.
Dogs don't get seat belts and I did what many mothers used to do in the old days.
She sat on my lap.

On the way out of town, we drove by a colorful Hindu wedding.


This was the best I could do but do you see a pointy thing center right behind the white van?
That is an oast house.
It was originally used to dry hops for beer and is now mainly found in the southeast region of England.What you definitely won't see anywhere but the south of England are vineyards. 
 I am not sure if this style of cladding is a Southern thing or an old English thing in general. But one doesn't see this in London.

I would be lying if I said I love the countryside in general but the country roads make a road trip more scenic than a motorway.
The classic white signs indicating hamlets are charming.
 

Our friend has all the country life trappings.
Pigs...

Welsh mountain goats.
An apple orchard.
Lots of very happy dogs.
Walled gardens.

Millie's favorite bit were the chickens that offered daily eggs.  
Her primal instincts were so strong because as a part spaniel - they were the ones to flush out birds from the bushes before a hunt.

There was a special 100 anniversary beam of light to commemorate the first world war.
I had a pretty good vantage point from the balcony.

It made London a bit like Gotham city.
There was the "other" ray of hope.
A double rainbow.
Dude. A rainbow Blue Booby! ;)

While I know it is great to have electric cars I doubt my ability to drive one as I have a neverending battle of charging my phone.

If the news weren't so darn terrible, the headlines would have been about the temperate and consistent summer we had...
It was a gentle summer and the kind poets write about.
I was so inspired that I planted some tulip bulbs 
in the rear courtyard and tried to get all homemaker-y and poured coffee beans into the soil.
Apparently one uses ground coffee but I am sure mother nature is much more understanding than my critics.
This year's Serpentine Pavilion is by Smiljan Radic.
It looks like a crude spaceship on Stonehenge.

Millie turned one last week and she loved that stick so much I brought it back home.
She has been such an unexpected joy in our lives.
I was so dubious when my brother said he was getting a dog but now I shudder to think he could have listened to me and passed on the idea of having a dog in the city.

She is still so curious.  
She is cuter than she is smart. 
I am an honest aunt.  
She tried to get at the birds and tried to squeeze under the rails...
I think she must have had a crook neck because she used my pillow to nap later that day.

Just to let you know I am behind schedule and will be picking two names from the hat this weekend. So last reminder call for any new readers to let me know if they want to enter 
( people who have entered in the past are automatically in.)

Also, I have having an atrocious time commenting on wordpress blogs.  The Gentleman Farmer let me know that some of my comments were in his spam folder.  Mind you my comments are very similar in content to spam.  So if you have a wordpress blog please do check your spam folders as I can't imagine I am the only one who has experienced this.

Have a lovely weekend x

38 comments:

  1. Wonderful pics Naomi, and I can't recall seeing brick cladding like that shown from Southern England either...and I really like it. I'd be very interesting in hearing what's it called if anyone knows.
    I just love Millie and poor thing with all those birds just out of reach!

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    1. I am not sure if that cladding is regional and didn't have time to research beforehand either. Millie loves the birds and luckily she is still bumbling and hopping around otherwise they should be scared...

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  2. This was great...I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more. Some have Paris. Dude, we will always have rainbows baby. I do hope you have a fantastic September.

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  3. I used to dog-sit two black and white English Springer Spaniels named Mingo and Logan. They were
    AMAZING dogs! Not only beautiful but they were so sweet and warm and lovable. I'd take them for
    long walks and people would always ask if they were show dogs. Your doggie made me think of them, so
    thanks! Susan Wilson

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    1. Spaniels are so sweet and cuddly but they do need to roam a lot. Millie is 60% spaniel and that gene is a bit stronger in her and her spaniel side is the crufts winner side too.

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  4. Millie seems like a very clever canine.

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    1. Hehe - she is clever but is quite stubborn and only listenes when I have treats!!

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  5. Our dog is cuter than she is smart, too. Gotta love a slightly silly dog. They are a great giggle-maker.

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    1. True - too smart could be boring and Millie and her curiosity makes me and my neighbours laugh.

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  6. Oh that picture of Millie with her head on your pillow is absolutely adorable!

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    1. Stuff like that make her get away with so many cheeky things!

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  7. Hello Naomi,

    It is absolutely true that staying at home in London for the summer can never be dull. There is so much to see and do and, yes, the best part is that most people have abandoned the city for the Costa Too Much and so one can enjoy many events with less than the usual crowds.

    And, what a varied and enjoyable summer you look to have had. Your dog is simply adorable and it certainly seems to us that you have a friend for life there. We can well imagine the joy of open fields and chasing sticks. Perfect!

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    1. Traffic was nil, most restaurants were easy to book. It's such a pity everyone leaves in August. I tend to stay in town in August. I love the Costa too much phrase! I have learned from Millie about the simple pleasures :)

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  8. I too am going away for a week in the sun come September. I was hoping the weather would be better this August but it's been particularly horrific up here in Scotland.

    Although it was lovely when I was down for the day in London a couple of weeks ago and it was so EMPTY !! Bliss.

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    1. Yes you don't need to book everything you can get a can and not pay thirty quid bc of traffic and the gardens are great!

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  9. Darling CSW
    Yesterday I learned about Rufus Porter and today I discover, thanks to you Miss Naomi, the concept of an oast house. Honestly, who knew one could have so much fun cultivating pen pals from around the world? Dig the decorative brick cladding, such a lost art, totally awesome, totally reflective of somebody’s sense of humor from way back when. Given how I spend my days, all the farm critters brought a smile to my face.

    That is a great installation piece by Radic, very organic, very inviting.

    Millie is the bomb!

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    1. Yes I agree it is the little things that can burgeon into a bigger interest and it opens up ones social parameters which I enjoy too :)

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  10. I've never been on a country weekend, not that I can recall anyway, but it's definitely something on my list to do. I guess it's a bit easier if you have a friend to visit in the country as well. I'm not a dog lover, in fact I'm not a pet lover but there's something about seeing other people's snapshots of their pets that makes me go a bit gooey, bit like with babies. Well I think you captured August very nicely Naomi - happy September and holiday when it arrives xx

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    1. I still am dubious about living in the country it's a different way of even thinking! But pets are a joy but I'm still not ready for a full time pet and this arrangement suits me just fine for nue xx

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  11. Loving this winderful tour of yr country weekend plus summer in the city! Love dogs, they elevate every life and every ocassion

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    1. Dogs do indeed elevate everything and they are just bundles of pure joy!

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  12. MIllie is a darling! Love the photos. You captured the charms of country life so well. I'm always grumping about the mud and bugs and sometimes miss the charm.

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    1. Millie has made me smile so much the past year! But I do think I could slowly live the country life but with a lot of help!!

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  13. I absolutely love being in Christchurch when everyone else has gone on holiday. It feels as though I have the city to myself; bliss. Dear, sweet Millie. Will she go on holiday with you in September?

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    1. While there is an upsurge in tourists they are usually in a hood mood bc they are on holidays but unfortunately Millie won't be joining me in Asia!

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    2. I'm catching up on Blog reading and adore that dress on you...and also am in love with Millie! Was howling at her trying to slip under the fence by the pond! There's nothing that beats an English summer when the weather cooperates. Thank you so much for sharing yours.

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    3. Thank you! There is a universal admiration that softens strangers that I do appreciate. Hope you had a good summer

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  14. Dear Naomi
    I am crazy about your pictures. They are the photographic equivalent dropping by for a cup of tea.
    I would love to go for a drive around the English countryside, though I am a bit worried about my ability to navigate a rotary while driving on the opposite side of the road.
    Millie is a dear and has very good taste in sticks. I could never live without a dog. We should get the all the blog dogs together for a meet n greet.
    I hope I fixed the wordpress problem. I will keep my eye on the situation.

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    1. The concept of the English countryside is one that soothes the soul although the commute prevents me from committing to that life! Yes I think it's one of those compatibility issues and here is to a fruit fall fall!

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  15. Dogs do bring something special - we have been without one for two years now for the first time ever. I miss having a dog to greet me and to take for walks. Millie is very cute. Thanks to Grand Designs I do know what an oast house is! Tonkath

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    1. While I am still not ready for my own dog I can't believe how much enjoyment she has brought me and I have now become one of those dog crazy people!! Yes I saw that episode of GD too Tonkath :)

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  16. London is summer is empty and it is so nice to stay or drive to the countryside while everybody is away...And for once the weather wasn't too bad, and we can't complain!

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    1. This summer was rather pleasant indeed and I am glad I decided to go away early and now in Sept. because it seems such a waste to leave the country the few times it is lovely!!

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  17. Funny, before I liked to stay in town when I was in paris but now I can't stand it. We rarely go at this period, but this year we finally managed

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  18. Lovely post Naomi! So wonderful to see your part of the world. What a sweet dog Millie is. Love your countryside photos! xx Kim

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Thank you for dropping by!