Devon Life

In response to:Armistice Day

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:15:56 +0100

This same poem was posted by an American blog friend with a painting of a field of poppies.

There was a small group of people clustered around our town's memorial of two wars, remembering. Some of the people there would be remembering people they knew in WW2, their own ancestors from WW1. and likely, people they have connections with, participating in the current conflicts.

Being what we are, how we are, and politics being what they are and how they are, plus ca change, except for the way warfare is executed. In the end people are maimed and they die in the cause of the fight.

In response to:Armistice Day

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:28:46 +0100

Yes, I agree with you, Lois. It is particularly sad in the year that the last of the WWI survivors left us, and when many of the WWII veterans are also departing, that we should have so much loss of life.

In response to:Armistice Day

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:04:16 +0100

I always feel that today is somewhat overlooked compared to Remembrance Sunday!
I also find it sad that whilst we remember we seem not to learn much from past conflicts and have to continue to mourn. xx

In response to:Bonfire Night 2008

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:55:06 +0100

Lovely - I can just picture them. What a shame the moths found them.

In response to:Bonfire Night 2008

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:54:40 +0100

Nice poem, lovely photograph.

In response to:Spit and swallows

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:51:53 +0100

Montu - you are a sad spammy git. Get a life.

In response to:Spit and swallows

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:43:30 +0200

I hang my head in shame! I know split infinitives are not as frowned upon as they once were, but I do try to avoid them.

In response to:Spit and swallows

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:38:50 +0200

Oh, Lois, line 3, for you to actually split an infinitive is surely a crime - a crime which, sadly, is only to be expected on most blogs, but I thought better of you.

In response to:Celebrity spotting in Axminster

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:05:31 +0200

There I was thinking that Hugh Whatsits got the hygienic wipe down, but then, if he is organic there's no need. A bit o' muck and all that.

It's good so many people donate. I've lost count, I started in 1966. Because my record has skipped over borders we ended up guessing - a lot less as I was too embarrassed to say how long. We all deserve our cups of tea/coffee and a bikkie.

Our donation roundelay is arriving in its pantechnicon on a day when I am not able to give free flow. (Yet again). Last time, I was just getting over some bug, time before okay, only my finger got really abused by the man taking the sample, the one before that, and then prior to that one, I had seen the dentist for a check up, when nothing was done, so that disqualified me. What was it, the sterile instruments, the hygienically wiped plastic cover on the dental chair?

In all seriousness, I know you can't be too careful, but they will take more care of my finger next time, of that I am very sure.

In response to:Celebrity spotting in Axminster

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:30:12 +0200

Well done indeed to all of you. It is funny watching people look at people to make sure they are truly seeing who they think they are seeing.

In response to:Celebrity spotting in Axminster

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:27:02 +0200

Well done on donating blood, I used to but can't nowadays sadly.
As for celebrities I see a few occasionally and always find it amusing watching people watch them! xx

In response to:More snow tales

Fri, 08 May 2009 14:28:06 +0200

A great snowy snap posted presenting the theme of the post.

In response to:More snow tales

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:17:45 +0200

Begone, foul spammer

In response to:More snow tales

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:21:52 +0200

You appear to have disappeared Lois...

In response to:More snow tales

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:58:49 +0100

Lovely shot, but could you explain HDR to the unititiated.

I just set up my camera for 'snow' and live in hopes. :)

Hopefully, the snow has passed now, though it is still too soon to say there won't be anymore. What we had briefly this week was a slushy variation.

In response to:More snow tales

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:00:57 +0100

that is a beautiful shot louis,i love the sunlight at the back of the tree.

In response to:More snow tales

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:56:00 +0100

That's interesting... I tried Photomatix too and thought it pretty terrible to be frank.

I've got Photoshop CS2 and find the HDR option less than friendly - too much tone mapping and not enough user control... maybe it's just me.

I have Paintshop Pro, but would you believe hae never installed it! :roll:

In response to:More snow tales

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:09:12 +0100

The tree and photo are terrific! xx

In response to:More snow tales

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:38:56 +0100

I've recently bought Paintshop Pro X2, which has a built-in HDR function. I tried Photomatix on trial and didn't get on very well - I don't want all the tone mapping stuff, just no burnt-out skies.

In response to:More snow tales

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:24:40 +0100

Beautiful photo....I can imagine it would look great at sun rise or sun set too!

xx

In response to:More snow tales

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:20:16 +0100

That's a lovely oak tree. We used to have a couple like that spanning the lane in our old house.

Tom.

In response to:Big Garden Birdwatch results, 2009

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:02:41 +0100

Good idea - I shall look forward to seeing your reports. In fact, as I keep missing posts, I am going to work out how to do a link or a subscription or something!

You got great variety for your bird watch. I love seeing the nuthatches and goldfinches - but no such luck for me!

In response to:More snow tales

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:59:42 +0100

What a beautiful shot. I'll have to ask the OH what HDR means, but it has certainly produced a wonderful shot.

In response to:More snow tales

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:48:55 +0100

You obviously had far more snow than I did! :))

Did you use Photoshop or some other software to create your HDR image?

In response to:Big Garden Birdwatch results, 2009

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:57:33 +0100

Yes it is lois,thank god for it,what would we do without the trees,birds,animals, i often think what a miserubul world it would be.

In response to:Big Garden Birdwatch results, 2009

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:35:46 +0100

A small price to pay for so much joy and interest!

In response to:Big Garden Birdwatch results, 2009

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:55:21 +0100

I put some more peanuts out this morning for the birds we get a lot coming from the wood close by. Lots of bluetits,coldtits,woodpeckers,blackbirds, greenfinches,a lovely show.

Every day i fill a bird tray with bread and seeds for them and in return they sing there lovely song,0h i forgot the resident robin and wren.lol.

In response to:The Birds

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:29:12 +0100

We have a regular group of blackbirds come back here every winter they wait in the trees every morning for me to feed them. This morning we had a wagtail first ive seen for a while.

In response to:The Birds

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:22:22 +0100

The branches are black and stark against the washed out, frozen blue sky.

The blackbirds perch uneasily, glowering at me from their unsteady branches.

Feed me, they telegraph . I'm so cold and hungry. Feed me, monkey. Feed me.

Bugger that! I'm not going out there to have my eyes pecked out by a feathered Norman Bates.

In response to:The Birds

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:20:00 +0100

Thay have indeed - I make sure to inspect my shoes every time I step back inside, just in case.