June and the fun so far!

Another couple of weeks have passed by in some kind of rush - not sure who is rushing this year but would they please slow it down a little! In 6 days it's Rob's birthday and in 16 days it will be our wedding anniversary! This month is rather like it was in the UK 22 years ago - leading up to our Big Day it rained, rained and rained some more and then the Sunshone and it was a blazing hot day! But still enough of that - we have this year and this month to look at!

So far - rain - yes it has, in all shapes and forms - from drizzle (that wet rain) to Hail the size of Golf balls  - I kid you not - thankfully it was 3am in the morning so most people were sleeping and it wasn't in our town but one not so far away and a lot of the North Deux Sèvres suffered! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.389322484509401.1073741828.264616960313288&type=1

 Naomi's friend in Niort likened it to Armageddon - and was it a sign of failing her Bac, at least she was focusing on that!

Yes it's been that time here - exams and more exams! Naomi has currently done her Bac Français written, Science tomorrow and French Oral on the 2nd July then that is it for this year the holidays can begin!!

She was told by her very sensible teacher to go out and not do anything revision related on Tuesday the day before THE exam so we had to go out - swimming and then retail therapy - it is hard being a Mum some days ;)

Chloe passed her end of year Uni exams and we are so pleased and proud! She is now somewhere in the Cantal region hopefully not soggy from the rain, but enjoying her experience of "basic camping" and by basic I mean basic just a tent and the hills nothing else! Still she's young and it's a great experience - I just wonder is it one she will repeat?

We have managed a few bike rides - I wanted to get some Poppy images before they were blown away or rained away! So one of our early morning rides consisted of me stopping to take photos, Rob being very patient and Scooby even more so - at least it's worth going out for otherwise we do the 4kms far too quickly!

Early morning Poppies

So bright!

The 7th June was a lovely day - lots of beautiful sunshine and warmth - in fact so much so everyone was commenting on the fact that summer must be here! Not quite but Spring promised to be nice....if only for a day or two - so off round the garden to see what was new and in bloom - my fave the honeysuckle - is there ever such a sweet scent? Anytime of the day whatever the weather this bush is a hive of industry and smells divine!

Clematis the size of a dinner plate!

Orchid or Freesia?

Irises in the grass (that should have been wildflowers!)

Bee in the Cornflower!

For more photos pop to my Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151612176650095.1073741855.122083630094&type=1

In between deluges I have been picking my delicious strawberries - I am trying to get out there every other day and I am prepared to share some with the birds but not ALL!

sweet treats!

I have also had my first Golden Rasberries and they are so sweet and succulent - although not many at the moment hopefully more will be here soon....

I do love the rain and I do love the fact that the flowers are enjoying it (when the wind doesn't blow them away that is!) but to be outside after a rainfall is quite magical really - look at the drops and you see a whole new world!

Drops on the Foxgloves

Love in the Mist

white roses against the grey sky

Pink Poppy

White Foxglogves - Bee on the way in...

My parents have decided to move - the house they are in is lovely but getting to that stage of garden a bit big etc...so I popped down to take a few internal photos for the advert www.admyhouse.com and whilst there of course the flowers beckoned! I won't bore you with them all but I do love their cottage door....

We have been busy at home when we can be as well and Sunday (16th)  was glorious - very warm indeed, so we started the day with a 22kms bike ride and really I didn't want it to end! Only the fact it was lunch time and Chloe would be going back to Poitiers to sort out the rest of her camping bits,
oh and Rob was hungry! Many hills and a slight headwind but oh so worth it!

22kms - done!

Back home and lunch down the garden needed severe attention - grass needed mowing so we did get out there and we did do the jobs that needed to be done and whilst potting up my new tomato plants I found a mole mountain - I kid you not!

How does the mole get through when I cannot!?

work in progress!

Getting back to normality!

ummm - gaffer tape anyone?

ready for the better weather!

Spotted by Chloe whilst watering - so along came the camera! Note the water drop!

We brought the water feature with us and made the triangle for it to sit in - however the bowl cracked so I had another idea - make the triangle the water holder!

finished with my 2 lovely Fuchsias from Rob!

Well that brings me nearly up to date - just a couple of  "work things" to throw in now -  I am sure you 

remember me saying about my "epic photo shoot" with many children at les lacs....well one of the photos has become a lovely Sepia Canvas!

And another order from the same shoot but a different family ordered by her friend - how lovely :)

Pêle Mêle

Pêle Mêle is certainly proving to be a really popular way of displaying photos - and I am so pleased to be able to offer this service!

Here is a Special Fathers Day card but ideal for any occasion!

20x30cms Limited Edition Print - designed for a Birthday present!

I really want to share this with you- for those of you who are my friends on FB you will have seen this has been my banner photo for some while now - taken by my Dad about 40 years ago at Leigh-on-Sea! As a Mother's Day gift I had this printed up onto a wooden mount and absolutely thrilled to bits with it I am...I think my Mum was pretty chuffed with it as well! It's only a small image as taken from a slide but it shows what you can do! So I can now offer this service also with any photos I have taken as portraits or from my gallery!

Right now my tummy is starting to rumble so I think it must be time to go and cook lunch and maybe a Fat Free Cherry Cake - recipe kindly shared by my friend J.B over at http://www.frenchvillagediaries.com/2013/01/fat-free-cherry-cake-recipe.html it looks delish and I so happen to have a few cherries in the fridge - not as many as I would like but hopefully enough to make the cake!

The finished cake!

Don't forget you can see more of my work over at my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PamelaJaynePhotography

I do hope you are enjoying my "life through the lens" and would love you to share more with me......all comments are welcome!

Have a great rest of the week and let's hope the weather improves for the Marché Fermier et d'Artisanat d'Art - Maire l'Evescault 79190 on the 22nd June!

PamelaJayne

https://www.facebook.com/PamelaJaynePhotography

Blossoms, Birds and Blue Skies!

 Well it does seem incredible that we are now halfway through the month! Time just seems to be going more quickly these days! My cousin (who is more like a niece to us)  turned 21 on the 13th and I can remember the day she was born as if it were yesterday! I was at the time 7 months pregnant with our first daughter and just needed to know what it was all about - although I did get very frank answers! We had some great times watching our girls grow up together (until we moved here every Birthday was shared)  My Mum bless her spent many a Saturday looking after the two scamps! But that was 21 years ago and we have many happy memories.

Whilst looking for a photo to share (ok to embarrass said 21 year old) I ended up finding so many wonderful memories and so much reminiscing was done - suddenly realised that I haven't seen so many friends and family for so long that seeing them through photos made me feel a little sad! BUT it doesn't matter how far away we are from each other, it's knowing we all have a special bond and we can still  talk and I can still share all my photos and memories!

My Mum, Griff and Me!

This photo was taken by my Dad over 40 years ago, me with my Mum (and dog Griff) sitting on the top of Leigh Cliffs overlooking Two Tree Island, Canvey (and what I used to think was France!) which I now of course realise is Kent, it looks such a peaceful scene doesn't it? It probably wasn't though as I was most likely chatting away. I am so excited by this photo I have decided it's going to be printed up and framed for my Mum for French Fêtes des Mères - so I will be off to the printers with this on my stick the next time I go!

We have had bizarre weather again - going from really lovely and warm and an almost balmy 19 degrees last week- to 1 degree on Tuesday night!

Yesterday it was bitterly cold and we did actually have some snow - well I say snow it came down like hailstones and lasted for all of 20 seconds! But the morning was filled with beautiful sunlight and I felt the Blossoms of the Mirabelle and Golden Plum were begging to be photographed! (not to self coat and gloves next  time!)

Mirabelle Blossom

I am thrilled to see that the Blossoms of the Almond tree are increasing - hopefully this means more than one Almond to harvest this year!

Almond Blossom

And a walk to my "Wild Garden" gave me the thrill of finding the Cowslips are spreading...

Cowslips in Spring

Blossoms

And then there is the Golden Plum looking so beautiful against the Blue skies, I now await the sound of Bees humming around the blossoms - they sound like motorbikes when they cover the tree!

 Whilst I haven't been lucky enough to see the Kestrel again I spent a few minutes (oh ok a lot of minutes) watching the birds and and was quite pleased with this one!

Fatballs are for sharing!

I am going to show my ignorance - I have no idea what this little bird is?

Bathtime!

At lunchtime yesterday (14th) I happened to glance out of the Kitchen window - again - and saw the Woodpecker (Pic) back on the fatballs - I love watching him as he really gets into it and underneath are the little birds just clearing up all that falls away!

I thought I would be a bit clever this time however and go out the back (which our front) and creep around the side and get a capture outside - but no! I am not quiet enough quite obviously... or was it this Bird that circled and called..and then right over my head it went! I still want to see a Buzzard stationary - but when you have a dog with you walks aren't very quiet and he does somewhat scare things away before we have even spotted them!

Over the top

And another little bird that didn't seem perturbed to have me loitering by the trees (again I am not sure what it is but assume it is another Tit - maybe Willow?)

SO it's been another bird week really! I am now so looking forward to the Butterflies, Bees and the return of the Hummingbird Hawk Moth! And talking of Moths on the wall today was this little fellow sunbathing (do Moths sunbathe?) 

The urge to stroke was quite tempting but I didn't but it does look all soft and fluffy!

Taking a walk around the garden this afternoon (hanging out the washing requires the camera at all times!) I was actually watching our Ollie cat stalking - well - just about anything really, if it's not the dog, the Coq Norman then it is his shadow.... or in this case - ME!!

I has spotted you!

Silvery lights

As I was getting up from my stalking position these seed heads caught my attention the light was so lovely and them and the background just added something to the already pretty scene!

The washing is now in, even though it hasn't been that warm, the sun did it's very best to get it dry and the breeze helped so no the bedding and I are ready for the onslaught - in technical terms I am ready to fight the duvet! 

It is the weekend insert big YAY here, who knows what we are going to be doing! Daughters will be home tomorrow so it's definitely film night which this week will be the 2nd Part of the final Twilight film (shame on me I don't know what it's called!!) Last weeks choice - Skyfall was fantastic and quite the best Bond film I have seen!

By the way - proud parents last week - our youngest sang beautifully, the whole evening was full of talented youngsters, the biggest surprise was The Lambada played so fantastically on the accordion by one of the students - I don't think I have seen an accordion played so well by someone who is only 17!  The other instruments were brilliant as well of course! 

Well that's it now - I shall be off to go and fight the good fight with the duvets! And then re-organise the studio for a family photo shoot next week, another one to be excited about as we have a Baby Bump to include in this shoot!

I bid you a good evening and a brilliant weekend! 

Pam