Memorandum Monday: What's New?

I have been thinking during Sunday about what's new around here to join in with Sian and the other Monday bloggers. There has been quite a lot of this wet stuff everywhere but then there is nothing new about that.

Well on Saturday I did see a hen taking a ride. That's a new one for me!

Well ok she was put there but they both seem quite happy. They both joined us at a birthday tea for niece's birthday.

Oh and this is new. There are two of these hanging in the barn. So who knows what these are normally used for and who can guess what we are using them for?

My parents came for a Father's Day/ more 18th birthday celebration lunch. Mum came up to inspect something new in the cowshed. Some new calves bought by older daughter on Saturday. Anyone for a kiss?

There was also time to greet the now quite big pet lambs.

Meanwhile Sky is still checking out those calves.

So it seems there have been quite a few new happenings after all. Have a lovely week everyone and I look forward to hearing your ideas on the new floating article in the barn.

Around the Garden

Here are a few snippets from the garden  over the last month.

Lilac.

Cecile Brunner rose.

Honeysuckle 

Clematis 

Finally a bee rolling in the pollen of a Welsh poppy.

Cornish Morris Dancers

When we were at the Royal Cornwall Show last week there were a lot of Morris Dancers wandering around the showground. Towards the end of the day we came across several groups dancing. They didn't appear to have any formal venue but were dancing randomly in the middle of the avenues.

They were entertaining to watch in their colourful costumes.

I am not sure of the significance of these outfits but they were certainly putting everything into their dancing.

The last group came complete with horse.

Six Word Story: Happy

How does the saying go? "When the cat's away, the mice will play". It was a bit of a case of this last weekend. The girls stayed at home whilst husband and I went to a BBQ. One of the girls sent me this photo of activities at home. An ideal capture for me to edit for Miriam's  Short Story!

                      

I Can't Believe She's Eighteen!

Where have the last 18years gone? Somehow during that time we have moved from a new baby

To a toddler 

To a school girl

To a beautiful young adult!

Somehow our baby has grown up!

Yesterday she celebrated her 18th Birthday amidst revising for her A Levels. Thankfully she didn't have an exam on her birthday but it's Biology today and PE on Friday. The rest of the celebrations are on hold for a week or too. 

Next week she will have a first trip to the Polling Station to vote on the EU Referendum! 

Snap: All the Fun of the Fair

Our trip two weeks ago to the Bath and West Show gave me another opportunity to join in with Helena's Snap. There were two funfairs in different parts of the showground. There was one with some of those ultra modern rides that throw you in all kinds of directions in the air. This big wheel was part of that collection. There were very few people on it and no price was displayed. I suspect it was rather pricey. I did note it was available for hire and did suggest we could pop it on the front lawn for younger daughter's 18th. I did not get a positive response from farmer husband.

The other fair was far more traditional with what I would call a proper big wheel and a helter skelter.

The steam driven roundabout had a wonderful fairground organ and horses that I was very tempted to try.

This roundabout wasn't quite so appealing!

A Start to the Hunt with a Large Caterpillar

One thing that I have learnt over the last couple years is that when looking for items for the Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt they don't always turn up quite as you expect. No.11 on the list is Fresh Produce. Now my vision for this was some before and after photos of the vegetable garden and I may well still do that but in the meantime I have been distracted.

 The distraction happened in the flower tent at The Royal Cornwall Show. I always like to visit this early on in the morning before it gets too crowded. Husband usually comes along but is usually finished after a few minutes and is hovering in anticipation of the chance to move on to a bit of farm machinery. This time however he was busy listening to a speaker on alternative pest control with suggestions such as a piece of cucumber in an aluminium can to keep slugs off (gives off a nasty gas apparently). This gave me plenty of time to look round.

 One farm shop had a very spectacular display with an abundance of fresh produce.

So out came the camera for a few colourful shots.

Feeling peckish yet? Reach out and help yourself but be prepared to have your fingers slapped!

I then stepped back to have a look at the whole display and realised that it was a tableau of a very popular young children's story. Anyone who has not read Eric Carle's "A Very Hungry Caterpillar" should pop out now and get themselves a copy. It is a delightful book and was portrayed here in the most brilliant way. The giant caterpillar was made up from the fruit and vegetables.

Take a moment to read the notice on the back of the scarecrow.

The whole body stretches the length of the stand.

The caterpillar's journey through a veritable feast is depicted in flowers.

Building up to his transformation into a cocoon.

Then of course into a beautiful butterfly.

My photos are taken to dodge the people and hardly give it justice. They certainly deserved their gold medal.