August 2017 Photo Scavenger Hunt

I must say I found this selection quite challenging at first but eventually found relevant photographs. 

I am once again joining in with Hawthorn's photo treasure hunt - to see her blog and links to other people who are taking part click  here

1. Relaxed    

What can be more relaxed that a hot cat sleeping in front of a fan?  Our old cat Jak always lay this way in front of the fan and gas heater on cooler days.  I had so many pictures of him in this position I had a job to select one.  We would position the pouffe with his bedding on top in front of the fan for him.  

2. It begins with an M

In April this year I was horrified to find this leather handbag that had belonged to my mother absolutely covered in Mould. I hurriedly googled how to clean the bag and after following the instructions and then hanging it outside in the sun it was completely cleaned.  It is a lovely old bag from the 1950's  that I have kept but never used. It is beautifully lined in calf leather and I was so relieved when I managed to get it back to its normal look. No idea why this happened as it had been stored in the same cupboard for years.  I will keep a closer eye on it in future. 

3. Time for... Tea  (with a difference)

Last August we made a birthday tea for our daughter-in-law Jenn but instead of the usual scones and cake we covered the table with platters of fruit, all cut up and ready for eating and served it with two tubs of delicious icecream, one each end of the table. There was even a token cake candle in the centre of the arrangement on the cake stand in the foreground.

The sunny tablecloth had been painted by Jenn's mother whilst we were all in South Africa. Nice to use it in memory of Marian. 

It was a fun afternoon and although it looks a lot of work Jenn and I only spent time in the morning cutting and arranging it all.  It was a great success.  Last August was hot and sunny and this was a very suitable tea party not a cool month like this year.

4. Tangerine 

I must admit that when I first read this title I was immediately taken back to the music played by Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra from 1942 musical - The Fleet's In.  
My father played it on his piano in my youth and we would have heard it on the radio.  For those who may remember or curious hear it the link is here 

We have not adjusted to the English names for all the different 'easy peelers' in the supermarket as we have stuck to the Southern African name for the fruit - naartjie.  That is why fruit was not my immediate reaction to the word.  Anyway, I finally got it right and here is a bowl of lovely tangerine coloured Clementines. 

5. It begins with an O...  for overkill!

This is a picture taken of my paternal grandmother Annie Eliza.  Not only is she wearing the height of fashion of the times possibly 1920's but obviously flapper fashions had not reached her in Eastbourne. Then to crown it all she is wearing a fox skin cape, complete with head and tail.  Definitely Overkill.

6. Whiskery

Sorry to use dear Jak again but he had such a splendid set of whiskers that I had no option. He is sleeping on the apex of our garden shed, a favourite place of his.

7. Lace

This category gave me a lot of trouble. I don't own anything lacy, not clothing, table linen, nothing.  Then whilst searching for inspiration amongst our old photographs I found this. 

Again it is of Annie Eliza but this time looking younger and far more glamorous, holding my father and both her blouse and my father's dress (those were the days when all babies wore dresses) are covered in lace.  This I know was taken in l907 as my father is obviously a few months old.  Poor chap, that is a splendid curl on top of his head.  I love the way these old photographs are always mounted on embossed card, maybe because nobody owned cameras in those days and they were always professionally taken and as for that chair......it is gorgeous, obviously belonging to the photographic studio. 

8. Bridge 

This picture is of Abbot's Harbour Bridge, West Martin, Lancashire.  It is a favourite place of ours as it has a lovely old tea room/restaurant and lovely walks along the Leeds/Liverpool Canal.  I love the way the new bridge was just built over the old.  I see it was taken in 2011, when eldest was still only a little guy with long blonde hair.  He is walking with B, his proud grandfather.

9. Letters

This was another category that had me puzzled but then last week as I was walking through the village of Earby I saw this child's set of numbers and letters in the window of a second hand shop.  Eureka ....there were my letters.  Sorry about the reflection in the window - it was difficult to avoid.

10. My own choice

Last month I shared my secret garden which is down below on the left, between the flat and this upper garden.  We are lucky that we are the end flat so do not block anyone's access to their parking area and we have just added a few pots, then a few more, a greenhouse, trellis, a 'alittlement' (opposite of allotment, Hawthorn's description), trees in large pots, a couple of benches...like Topsy, it just growed!! (quote from Uncle Tom's Cabin) The picture below is a panorama picture I took but is rather small on this page so I have put it into a collage for more detail.  We get much pleasure out of our garden though it does take a lot of watering.....all 115 pots of varying sizes)

August's Photo Scavenger Hunt Challenge

Once again Hawthorn has set us a challenge, one I have to admit did not initially inspire me but once I gave it some thought it was no problem

1.  Blue

Bluebird Electric 1 broke the British speed record for an electric vehicle in 1997. The car continued the tradition of the record-breaking Campbell family as Bluebird Electric 1 was developed and driven by Don Wales, the grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell.  Picture taken on a visit to the Lakeland Motor Museum, Cumbria with our grandsons.

2. Eye

This very beady eyed gull was actually standing on the bonnet of our car in a car park overlooking Spittal beach near Berwick-on-Tweed.  He was watching us eat our sandwiches and every so often would tap the bonnet of our car to remind us he was there and wanting food!!  We were good and ignored him and he eventually flew off to find a more willing family to feed him.  But being so close to him I was glad there was glass between us, that beak looked lethal! 

3. Button 

I bought this very beautiful hand painted antique button for my daughter-in-law as she loves butterflies and collects unusual buttons to stick around her notice board in the kitchen. 

4.  Favourite 

My favourite picture taken this month is of the spread my daughter-in-law and I prepared for her birthday when Hawthorn’s family came across here for birthday tea.  It made a lovely change from scones and cake.  We arranged cut up fruit on plates, stands and platters and served it with tubs of soft serve ice cream and fruit drinks.  Look closely and you can see one candle in the centre of the arrangement on the cake stand – we all sang lustily while she blew out her candle.  (She would not let me put more candles on!!).  The fruit preparation was a bit time consuming but fun to do and well appreciated.

5.  Feet

Jak again!  He slept in the strangest places, this time the magazine rack but he was too long and his feet always hung out. 

6.  Glass 

Each piece of green glass has a story to tell -  the tall bottle with stopper at the back held bath salts and was given to my mother in the 1970’s when she lived in Capetown.  The two small green vases decorated with silver were a gift to my mother and I brought back from a holiday in Vienna in 1956 by a very special friend  to where we all lived in Lusaka in present day Zambia. The tall glass hock glass at the back was one of a pair.  I still remember very clearly how quickly my mother and I ran to the lounge when we heard the tinkle of glasses being banged together by a certain Hawthorn when she was about 18 months old – we did not think she could reach them but she had clambered up. She was not the reason there is only one left – the other broke during one of my parents many moves.

7.  Green 

This picture was taken in the courtyard of a tea room on Lindesfane (Holy Island) Northumberland.  This is really taking green driving to the extreme! It's registration plate showed HEDGE 1. 

8. Floor

This photo was taken in the Quire (ancient spelling of Choir) in York Minster.  Whenever we have friends from South Africa come to stay we take them to York to see the very beautiful and impressive Minster. This tiled pattern on the floor was carried on throughout the whole Minster. 

 9.  Knitted/crocheted

"A TwiddleMuff is a woollen muff with twiddles attached inside and out, designed to provide a stimulation activity for the restless hands of disoriented or confused patients, particularly those with dementia.

When distributed at the hospital, they are labelled with the patient’s name to prevent any cross infection and patients will be able to take them home with them so there will always be a need for many more to be made."

I was asked to make Twiddlemuffs for Airedale Hospital’s Occupational Therapy Department.  To date I have made 10. They are fun to make and use up odd bits of wool.  My friend ‘Threads through my Life’ very kindly donated many different ‘twiddles’ to sew on to the muffs.  I have inserted chunky zips from old jeans in some and put small knitted  toys on a crochet chain inside, attached necklaces from charity shops threaded onto shoe laces so they can’t be broken and other things to fiddle with to occupy the restless hands of dementia patients.  I also like to use fluffy wool in bands in the lining layer as they contrast in texture.  Anyone wanting some small project will find that the OT departments in their local hospitals are only too grateful to receive them.  From experience I find that crocheting them makes a firmer muff and is easier to put in an opening for pockets or zips.  Google Twidlemuffs for ideas if interested.  The measurements and knitting pattern are on line too.

10.  My own choice

This hot weather this month has brought back fond memories of Jak taking advantage of the fan in the lounge.  Actually he took advantage of many things, but was so loved he was allowed to get away with it!!  He would sleep on our bed – making us hot – trying to get the breeze from the fan in our bedroom.