July Photo Scavenger Hunt: scenes of beauty in far-off places

Here we have another fun installment of Greenthumb's photo scavenger hunt. I got started early with this but as usual, there were still some that I ended up doing at the last minute


July's List:

C is for?

Cirro-cumulus clouds.   
The 3C's,  The sky was so pretty that morning on my way to school at the start of July.


9pm

Gorgeous sunset outside Dore Abbey in Herefordshire.  The interval between the two halves of our concert- musicians and spectators alike milled amongst grave stones drinking wine or juice, eating crisps and pringles put upon tombs, chatting and enjoying the beautiful evening.


Stem

Take your pick of the bunch...

...Hairy...

...In profusion...

...or downright scary?!?!



Pool


This dreamy pool is a natural water pool which belonged to the hosts of our lunch and afternoon tea in Herefordshire.  Guttingly, it was not a really hot day and I couldn't bring myself to put my bikini on and go in though I dipped my feet. Several other musicians went in for about 5 minutes.  You could imagine being in Rome. 


Dough

On holiday at camp, I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten to get a shot of dough. I asked the chief cook if there was a day when they would be working with dough and she told me to come on Wednesday morning as they were making lots of bread.  Duly at 9.27am, I remembered this fact and ran from my space on 3rd flute to run to the kitchen.  I took quick shots and then ran back to my rehearsal.  In the kitchen, as the dough rose, they took a few shots for me.  Finally at 11am, coffee time, I came out to find the dough still rising outside, the Head Cook let me take the tea-towels off and photograph it. I took loads of shots of the 11 loaves of dough but it was the setting against the picturesque background that I found most charming.  The eventual bread was delicious!


Liquid

The mere minimum of liquid- dew drops on leaves...
Or if you are a little more thirsty, the fountain in the lake at sunset.


Lever


Take your pick of lever. Foot lever, hand-lever.  When we went to play cricket, we found this vehicle parked just as the edge of the woods.   I preferred it in Sepia-mode.

On the wall

Ancient Christian-writings upon the walls of Dore Abbey.



Or a wall-plant


Or a great creeper, taking over the house.

Together

I took several photos for this easy to interpret one but it was the sight of this assortment of chairs just bunged together in the courtyard on holiday that captured my interest- they definitely look like they're up to something!  What can they be talking about?
In your bag

I could have staged a really great, neat picture but feel the need to share the truth. More often than not, my handbag looks like this- disgusting, disorganised and overflowing with strange items!

Your view of today


My view of today for most of my holiday.  The sight of hard-working violinists playing whilst I read my book in the rests!!!! I did play a little piccolo and flute too!

Sweet

The sight of this fairly newly born baby, asleep on the chest of a friend of the mother was a sight too sweet to miss!


Head over to the link to see everyone else's photos and leave a comment if you like what you see! Always good to get feedback!

I've been away at camp for the last 10 days so apologies if I have got a bit behind on my usual visiting and commenting duties.  I've got lots of other lovely things coming up so stay tuned folks!!! xxx

Hay-on-Wye, the town of books and fields of green

This weekend, I travelled to Herefordshire to take part in a concert in Dore Abbey, Herefordshire.  Last year, when I went, I went alone, getting a lift with fellow musicians in the orchestra and stayed at the vicar's house, The Old Post Office.  This year, knowing I was so close to one of my most beloved places in the world, Hay on Wye, I asked CBC if he'd come with me and we went to stay in our favourite organic B & B,Racquety Lodge. We stayed there for an idyllic 3 days, 3 years ago and CBC returned last year for 2 nights when he was at a wedding.

We arrived late on Saturday night after a very successful concert and after greeting our hosts, went off to our spacious room for a much needed night's sleep.

The next morning, I woke really comfortable and happy to be in this peaceful place.  We had arranged to have breakfast at 9 though I could have slept for hours longer!

We both had super fast showers in the lovely sunken bath (I love the organic Ayuvedic soap they have. Shunned the shower gel) and then got dressed and went into the beautiful sunny front room to eat our breakfast.  A mountain of raspberries from their garden and Earl-grey tea and juice, organic corn-flakes and then a delicious plate of English full-cooked breakfast (sorry, too hungry to photograph) and a long chat to our host. She has interesting views on things.

We packed reluctantly and then I went to sit outside our room on the bench to look at the beautiful views of the Black-mountains and down into Hay whilst writing in the visitor's book.   The day was so beautiful.

We headed down to the main carpark in Hay and parked and then set off for a wander.  If you don't know this, Hay-on-Wye is famous for being 'The town of books'- it has more bookshops per square mile than anywhere else in the world.  If you are looking for some obscure, rare book, this is the place to find it.  I spent about 7 summers here as a teenager so I know it well.

This bookshop was only about 10metres from the carpark, the bookshops are everywhere!

We pottered in book shops and I managed to buy books within 5 minutes of being there from Addyman's annexe (will show you what I bought another time).  I LOVED the sign above!!!  I also signed a petition in there- apparently, some guy who runs the Hay book festival in May said that 'Hay could survive without all the book shops."  Er, no you twit, that's one of its main draws for people!.  I then popped into Fuse, a lovely shop selling pretty clothes and quirky kitchenware (to my shame I bought a dress. CBC was NOT impressed)

Passing the Castle in Hay, I realised I always manage to miss going into the Castle or the castle shops which I must rectify next time I come.

After a quick browse, we headed into Shepherd's, the wonderful ice-cream parlour with Sheep's milk ice-cream. 

I ordered a mint-chocolate chip ice-cream milkshare and CBC ordered an orange-and-cointreau ice-cream milkshake. CBC set up his laptop to finish reports (I finished mine mercifully!) and I sat and read my book for a while. We laughed at the people next to us who ordered plate after plate of the special of the day- belgian waffles with cream and your choice of ice-cream!

 After a while, shake finished, I decided to leave CBC to his work and set off alone round Hay.  There were some wonderful buskers playing beautiful folk music on fiddle and guitar.

I set off to my favourite bookshop of them all- Rose's children's and illustrated bookshop. Oh this place is amazing- it is a huge labyrinth of every classic and conceivable children's book you could dream to buy.  Last time we came, I located an Angela Brazil book The jolliest term on record,  which I had wanted for a long time.

This time, I asked if they had any of the Chalet School books and oh rapture, was led to THREE shelves worth!!!! These are just the paperbacks (more my price-range than the hardbacks). I phoned my friend (who also loves them) excitedly to tell her where I was and what I was looking at and may or may not have purchased some items from the shelf!

I could have stayed in there for days but instead, thought it would be prudent to beat a retreat whilst I was safe!

I love seeing the market place as this was always where we performed our windband concerts when I came with my music school. The antiques place behind it was amazing and I really wanted a bakelite bangle (but didn't!)

Booth's is the largest bookshop in Hay and is a wonderful place with amazing cafe and music! We managed to buy a print of the original daisy painting in our B&B by our host.

I returned to CBC and we wandered somewhat more before realising we must get home.  However, before we went, we knew we wanted to go and have even just a little walk to get some fresh air. Sadly no time for Offa's dyke or Hay Bluff.

We walked along the field, avoiding (or not) sheep poo and thistles and enjoyed being the only people there.

As CBC walked back, I basked in the beauty and serenity of this place.  Some curious birds were chirping away and I thought I'd grab a quick 360 degree clip for you to experience it too.

Have you been to Hay or heard of it? Would you like to?