Take Three Thursday: New Life

Mary Lou at Patiopostcards hosts a meme every Thursday where we post three photos of something that catches our eye. This week I have chosen one especially for Mary Lou who loves horses. Yesterday Student Daughter and I walked down to see the new foal. 

She is nearly two weeks old and is quite a little stunner.

She belongs to a lady who rents our field. She regularly handles the mare and foal that makes her very friendly.

Written by Hand

Whilst I was away on holiday I found quite a few pictures  that would qualify for the Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt in particular No. 14 A handwritten sign. The National Trust properties were a favourite for these. This one at Castle Drogo was useful if you had brought your picnic with you.

This next one made me smile. The writing was so small and the sign so far in on the lawn that you almost had to step on the grass to read it!

This one greeted visitors at the entrance of Trerice house and gardens. What a lovely thought.

This was also at Trerice. I really wasn't sure about this. The swallows had been prevented from entering the barn so that it could be used for corporate events. 

I know this isn't technically handwritten but I would have liked to have borrowed this for our bathroom and I would like to add a bit more. Use your own towel, put the cap on the toothpaste and replace the loo roll if you use the last sheet!

The coastline is another popular spot and don't you just like this one?

There were sadly a lot like this next one on the cliffs around Treyarnon. I guess they are loved ones favourite spots and probably a location for scattered ashes.

A lot of different messages being imparted in these different signs.

Take Three Thursday: Three Windows, Three Views

Each Thursday I try to join Mary Lou with her Take Three Thursday meme where one shows three photos connected by a theme. Most of you will know that we are currently renovating part of the farmhouse. Things continue to progress although we are at a bit of a waiting stage. We await the floor tiles arriving, the electrician and plumber returning and the kitchen to be fitted. Today we have chosen the granite for the worktop. A lot of the woodwork has been painted and soon wallpapering can start.

Today I am showing three views that we will enjoy from our windows.

From the kitchen / breakfast room.

Through the French doors in the lounge.

Out through the dining room window which is to have a window seat in it.

A Trip Back

A requirement of any Cornish holiday is a picnic and luckily the weather was kind to us to be able to achieve this. The spot we chose was on the cliff just outside Porthleven on the road to the Loe Bar.

Just a little stretch away from the car park gave us some seclusion and a fantastic view for our lunchtime feast.

 

Our main aim of this day out was to visit the place where my mum was born. Although she was brought up in Bodmin her maternal family originated from Porthleven. Her mother was here visiting when she gave birth to her first of seven children (my mum).

You can see how close it is to the sea. My Gran was also born here and was often heard to say that if she had been thrown out of the window when she was born she would have landed in the sea. Fortunately she was not!

The compulsory photo was taken outside the house by an obliging passer by. We have many photos taken here over the years. Sadly the house always appears to be empty when we visit and is presumably somebody's holiday home.

Other members of the family lived in these two cottages which are at right angles to the other house.

The harbour is only a short distance down the road.

Porthleven is a fishing town on the South coast of Cornwall. It is now a very popular holiday location.

It is dominated by the clock tower at the end of the harbour which is part of the Bickford Smith Institute. 

Pictures are often shown in stormy weather of the waves crashing down onto the harbour and institute. Two policemen were unfortunate to lose their lives when their patrol car was swept off the harbour. Hard to believe on such a calm day as when we visited.

The two guns either side of the harbour were lifted from the wreck of the HMS Anson which sunk off the Loe Bar.

       The old lifeboat house which is now an art gallery can be seen on the other side of the harbour.

Finally here is a picture of my Gran ( my mum's mum) taken on the harbour wall in I would think the 1920s.

Colours of the Rainbow

My visit to Lanhydrock House gave me a chance to think about the Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt and in particular No 13 Two colours of the rainbow in any combination.

The gardens and parkland are currently an array of colour with all the azaleas and rhododendrons in flower.

This is just a few of the different colour flowers. 

 

Violet and Indigo

Yellow and orange.

Pink and red.

Pink and Orange

Everywhere you look there are fabulous colours.

Not all the colours of the rainbow but still worth showing such as these delicate bleeding hearts.

Some are just interesting for their curiosity such as this aptly called Hankerchief Tree on the left.

Take Three Thursday: Bluebells at Landhydrock

I am joining Mary Lou again today with her Thursday meme where three pictures with a theme are posted. I have chosen from some that I took yesterday at Lanhydrock House showing the bluebells in bloom around the gardens. 

This first one is actually taken in the churchyard which is almost completely covered in bluebells.

The magnolia arch has obviously been there for a long time judging by the age of the trees. The flowers are coming to an end for this season but the bluebells make a good dash of colour.

Bluebells cover the banks in between the azaleas and rhododendrons.

These are but a few of the photos I took yesterday at this National Trust property near Bodmin in Cornwall. I am sure you will be seeing a few more.

Exploring Old Haunts

The next day of my break in Cornwall was spent visiting old haunts. Many of our Cornish holidays when the children were small were spent staying at Trevone Bay. The beauty of it for small children is that it is quite compact and also we could walk there from where we used to stay.

We chose it this time as an ideal location to give mum a chance to get down onto the sand as we could bring the car right up to the edge of the beach without involving any difficult steps. No Cornish holiday is complete without feeling the sand between your toes and a paddle in the sea.

Even when we used to stay with my Gran in Bodmin a visit to Padstow was another holiday requirement. Padstow is a fishing village on the Camel estuary. Nowadays it has been popularised by Rick Stein and has some very upmarket restaurants. One spot of advice when visiting is to go out of peak holiday season and preferably a week day. It can become very crowded!

Padstow used to be one of those harbours where it was best to visit at high tide because otherwise it was entirely mud. Lock gates have improved this and the inner harbour always has water in it now.

It is a pretty place to meander and drink up the atmosphere.

There is always a mixture of private pleasure boats and fishing vessels.

We chose one of the cafes on the harbour front for lunch called The Cherry Tree. We were not disappointed. This tiny cafe was packed with customers. The staff are delightful and the food delicious.

Before returning to Treyarnon we drove out to Trevose Head. We were pleased to see that this is now owned by The National Trust which will ensure careful management of the site.

As well as the lighthouse and headland there are extensive views over to Constantine Bay and stretching on towards Newquay.

Another sunset walk was prescribed after supper. This time we walked towards Constantine. Take note of this bench because you will see it again!

Then of course the obligatory sunset picture.