Come for a walk with me and my dogs......

Please feel free to click on any of the photographs to enlarge, I have imported them as small pictures because there were so many. I apologise for the blurring and colour issues but it was quite difficult to take photographs with 3 naughty dogs in tow! So this is the start of our walk, coming out of Lavister Walks.

We enter onto Darland Lane. When we first moved to Lavister Walks almost 15 years ago, there were no houses on the left but now it is quite built up.

These are my walking companions. Left to right: Wilbur, Pickles and Poppy.

We pass lots of blackberry bushes on our walk, some blackberries have past their best but others are still waiting to ripen. I must pick some to make some blackberry brandy for Christmas, its really lovely and makes nice gifts for friends.

These are the out buildings of Gamford Farm, it used to be a pig farm but has stopped working for a long while now. There were animal abuse issues and the place was closed down thankfully. I used to be able to hear the pigs squealing from my house and it wasn't pleasant.

The old sign for the farm which is as decrepit as the building itself is becoming over the years.

We walk quite a way down the lane before we come to the first set of cottages which is called the area of Trevalyn. Very pretty cottages but I wouldn't like to live in one because alot of commuters use the lane as a short cut and I think they think it is a race track!

We leave Gamford Lane and re-enter Darland Lane. There are fields full of horses and ponies, this one whinnied at us and alarmed the dogs. At this point, Pickles is allowed off her lead because it is a very narrow and quiet lane and she is a good dog..... Wilbur and Poppy are not to be trusted!

Trevalyn Farm, a really old farm house which has recently been restored. They converted the barns and outbuildings into flats and houses presumably to raise money for the refurbishment. The development is sweet but I think it has robbed the old farm house of some of its character.

I could not pass this hedgrow without taking a picture because the berries were in abundance and so pretty.

Here are my PINK sheep! I think the farmer must have either been drunk when he marked these sheep or it was raining and the colour has run!

I found this freshly dug hole in the hedgrow. It kind of turns off to the right. Not sure what sort of animal it belongs to but probably a rabbit.

One of my favourite trees along Darland Lane. Ancient oaks. One could stare at this tree the entire day and still wonder at its beauty and find different patterns, textures and life.

Sloe Berries, great for making Sloe Gin. I usually pick lots of these, freeze them then use them for my gin, again, another nice Christmas gift for friends. These should be picked after the first frost but as the weather has changed here in recent years, I prefer to pick them and freeze them myself.

We are approaching Darland Woods now, Pickles is checking that we are going the right way. The woods are on the right.

Just what the dogs have waited for. This is the entrance to the woods where all of the dogs are allowed off their leads. I am climbing over the style at this point while they have bounced off to sniff some smells.

Poppy has been squirrel and duck hunting and is about to re-join her "pack".

Wilbur sporting his leather head collar because he pulls so badly, a headcollar is a great way to control him without pressing on his neck. He tends to cough easily so I am concerned about any restriction put around his neck.

As we passed the lake, the sun hit the leaves of this tree and it looked so pretty, I had to take a picture of it.

We leave Darland Woods at this point and enter the Golf Course. It is a "pay as you go" golf course and has been in existance for almost 10 years. I remember it when it was agricultural land and one would hardly meet anyone on this walk, now you bump into golfers and other dog walkers so it has lost some of its charm for me. At least the golf course are planting trees and enhancing the environment but they have culled all of the rabbits and I have found some disturbing mole traps.

The entrance of the golf course and the exit for us! This is where the dogs go back onto their leads for safety because the main road ahead has a tendancy to be extremely busy.

Here we are on the main Chester Road, about 5 minutes walk from home and the end of our walk. The dogs are tired and so am I! So, I treat myself to an iced latte (skinny of course) with a dash of vanilla essence..... blissful x

Friday Shoot Out - Relaxation (a day early)

So many ways to chill and relax..... I have learnt them all since February 2009 and my war with breast cancer, so how do I capture them on film? Great challenge. I put on my thinking cap and came up with a selection of photographs. My first is...... watching my baby boys sleep. When they sleep they are so innocent, full of peace and my heart brims with sincere and pure love for them. Above is Harry aged 8.

Above: my little Sunshine Boy - Joseff aged 10

I love it on the beach no matter what the weather. It is so lovely just to sit and watch the waves, listen to the sound of the sea, collect stones and shells....... and writing in the sand!!!!!

I love walking in the woods, again, no matter what the season, there is a gift in each one. Here Springtime is depicted in Darland Woods with the first scatterings of heavenly Bluebells and wild garlic.... ooooh I can just smell the cascade of perfume - wonderful!

Of course I love parties! Relaxing with friends, fun with good, sincere friends.

Unplanned days out with my family and the dogs. Always good fun when you just "follow your nose and heart"

Finally, relaxation for me is knowing that my children are healthy, happy and safe. When those three elements come together I can truly relax and enjoy life.

I am Glad I Went for a Walk in the Rain

I have been really tired all day. Jason has taken the boys to the cinema to see Harry Potter so peace reigns in our home for a while. I decided to go to bed for an hour with my dogs and when I woke I thought it would be nice to take the dogs for a walk, in the rain. So on went my pink, flowery wellies.....
Despite the rain, it was quite warm, I took my time so that I didn't over heat too much in my rain coat. We walked over the golf course and to the woods. This is Wilbur and Pickles enjoying the walk. I was secretly hoping that the course would be flooded so that I could "fill my boots" and enjoy more of the countryside but alas, twas not to be...

This is one of the dogs special "stop offs" in the woods. A natural dog bowl filled with water. Nice and full today because of the rain.

Thistles growing at the side of the brook. You can't see the brook because it is overgrown but it is home to toads and frogs. I have found that since I started my war with cancer I appreciate the little things in life now; the thistles, lichen on the trees, grass blowing in the breeze.....

I loved walking through the woods listening to the rain bounce off the trees, the damp smell of earth and fallen leaves. I looked up and liked the shape of the branch on this tree, a little like a shepherds crook. It is amazing to think that by the time my war with cancer concludes, I will have experienced the war fare in each season of the year.

In this photo you can see my favourite tree, the one with the three prongs, big, thick, tall and strong. It will be here a long time after I am gone.

I took my camara with me because I have joined the "Friday Photo Shoot" and I wanted to catch some pictures if I could. I am glad I have done this because it gives me the opportunity to capture precious memories.

So here I am now, uploading these pictures, waiting for my boys to come home. Peace will be shattered and so am I but I am so glad that I went for a walk in the rain.

Session 3/12: Success!

This is an "arty" photo of me wearing my bandana and cowboy hat by my husband! He produced the photo for me to display on my group which is called "The Bandana Brigade" on Face Book, just a little bit of fun with friends!!!!

So today, I have been so tired, my body has felt like a lead weight, my veins still hurt and I now know what it feels like to be old! However, at least my heart burn has subsided and I have some relief and although I am craving fruit, I am frightened to eat any in case of a reaction.

Now, back to my title "SUCCESS". I did have success today with my one year old Miniature Schnauzer, Wilbur. He is a gangly, big hearted, silly boy with no co-ordination, life is one big party to him and everyone is his friend. When we go out for walks, he barks the neighbourhood down and NOTHING can calm him at all. Since my diagnosis I have been focusing on training him and going to classes. Today; one chunk of smelly blue cheese, and we made it to the woods without him being hysterical! Hurray! He walked to heel and after about 100 yards, that manic look in his eye was gone, he was no longer hysterical, he listened to me and when we got to the woods, he sat, waited for me to take off his headcollar and release him.

I felt amazing! I was so proud of him and so proud of me! There is light at the end of the tunnel. The woods in the rain were so much more beautiful for our success! I had to share this with the world because cancer hasnt taken everything!