Is this the Spring?

IMGP8761_Tess, originally uploaded by Ajay Jayne.

Today has been a most glorious day, it even felt warm this afternoon as I was tidying up the garden. Two bin bags of old leaves from last year and a complete re-potting of the rhododendron which has spent too much of its time tipped over in its pot this last couple of months.

Tess has spent a lot of time staring into the borders pretending that she is awake although she actually has her eyes closed. Her coat has been glittering in the sun and it is lovely to see her outside in the sunshine.

No, this isn't Watford....It's La Thuile

Had a fantastic trip to La Thuile in Italy early in the year. A fair bit of snow and blue skies for the whole week.

It was great to get back out on the mountains again and enjoy some brilliant company.

Picking berries in Harold last year

P1060416_edited-1, originally uploaded by Ajay Jayne.

Can't believe it has taken me five months to post these images up. We have already finished quite a lot of the sloe gin that was prepared from the berries picked in September and that sky has such an Autumn feel about it.

The job takes quite a bit of concentration...

The sunglasses may be due to optimism or could be to prevent thorn damage.

Remembering the sunshine

It has been such a grey and gloomy day here in Watford that I just wanted to post up some photographs of the Acer tree taken just a couple of weeks back in the garden. It doesn't seem possible that the light was this beautiful but at least I have planted some bulbs now to start 2012 with some colour.

Back from Normandy

Back in Watford to blighted tomatoes and a rather dry garden after a late Summer break in Normandy with family. I sneaked every opportunity to take photographs in some of the churches in the region ( see http://redhenglass.blogspot.com/2011/09/normandy.html ) at one point making out I was following Rob but then slipping back through the church door. The local rural scenery was pretty fantastic, especially in the late afternoon light:





Evenings were spent being beaten at cards by Robert and Tim, Robert has a particularly dodgy shuffle:







.... and eating some rather splendid dinners harvested from E.Leclerc supermarches and prepared each evening by different guest chefs ...







A fantastic break and brilliant company, Au Revoir

Skye was truly beautiful again

P1050296 copy, originally uploaded by Ajay Jayne.

Travelled up to see my brother and his partner Debs again at the end of June. Despite news of lots of rain and more expected, Neist point late on a Friday evening after a spot of fishing was spectacular.

Lots of new creatures and fun as ever, lovely to catch up after such a long time.

Beautiful clouds over Watford

There were some amazing clouds over the garden yesterday, they changed very fast and I was surprised that they came out on the photos. They were wispy for about two hours and we watched them changing while eating our lunch outside.