Today I had another tattoo, the itch for ink is strong ... Well, can't find a Darth Vader emoji! And may the forth was yesterday, so a tad too late for Star Wars humor me thinks!

Well, I randomly, as I am, picked up a book off the shelf... It was my mom's Grimm's Fairy Tales, and it opened at a bookmark, of mine! The piece of paper above.. which is directions of how to use the tattoo cream it came with! 

Very strange! Of course! 

Next also random, picked up this book below of my mom's.. 

Thought I'd post the writing my grandfather's godfather, Mr G Daniel.. 1894.. had written on the inner page .. almost 130 years ago.. crazy isn't it.. my family have always written in books, to whom and when, and why... And to see the history like this is a beautiful keepsake..

My mom loved the same authors as her father.. and she read them to me.. wonderful stories, I guess my favourite of his is 'Ayesha, the return of She'

And me leaving Art Monkey Tattoo today! All wrapped up! 

This above is a rubbish photograph, but I was sat reading on the terrace and one of black bees came a buzzing around, he started on the sweet peas then came down to these Heart leaf ice plant flowers! Aptenia cordifolia is the Latin name.. 

And no, until this very moment I had no idea of the name of this plant I have been keeping alive in most parts of the wall behind the house and here and there on the terrace, for eighteen years! 

Then the bee came buzzing over me, I just dipped my head down into my book, then he flew off and over to the geraniums etc on the other side and back around again, and again.. quite a busy little bee! Well no, not so little... And while I'm rambling it was the color I wanted to try to show you, but wasn't easy with his speed, I have always thought of them as black.. but he's really the most beautiful dark purple.. gorgeous!

I know I handle British bees, letting them walk on my fingers and hands, and even touch the soft velvet of their little yellow and black bodies.. but not sure about these.. maybe I could try?? Am I a true bee whisperer!  

M. 

Bee-utiful.. this bee was cwtched into the warm Welsh poppy.. he is full of pollen already! And took this about 7am this morning, so wonderful...

I love bees! Like you haven't noticed!

And lavender.. just because!

Two photographs from New York, Old Westbury, three years ago today..

And two years ago now I was in New York..

Was going to post pictures of Pippa, because I was thinking of her so much earlier..

I miss her so much, I know it was meant with the best intentions, but telling me I could have her back for her last year of her life broke my heart even more.. how can I? I can't.. and it hurts so much I can't breathe as I write this.. or see through tears..

Okay okay..

Tomorrow moving on, again.. keep moving then I'll never catch up with myself.

Although this is a work related moving on! Would be weird if I just hung about here, in the house, like an added extra!

Mmm packing to do, tidying up!

Onwards.. and then home, I ache for home..

TTFN
Marian

Being a bee whisperer I am always on search of beautiful bumble bees... This plant was abundant, and buzzing'ly full of glorious bumble bees...

No shortage of the amazing creatures here, thankfully!  Oh and here is, was, the castle grounds in Berkhamsted!

I arrived as you know Thursday, into sunshine, a little at least, Friday was a pretty damp day, but I relaxed and got to know a new member of the family, Ruffles! And we went to see a show Friday evening in the St Albans Area, a comedian Mark Watson, he was excellent, we were third row from the front, and two of us were slightly stressed at being picked on! It didn't happen and was a great evening out.. Had Nandos first!

Saturday the weather started a bit iffy but picked up and we went out to shopping area outside of town, beautiful sunshine by then.  And family came to visit in the afternoon, a really good day...

Hadn't been around the Castle grounds since mom was in hospital, so over nine years ago; it hasn't changed, lol, not for a couple of centuries now maybe!!

Yesterday the weather was also good, we took a trip down memory lane, visited Northchurch and Berkhamsted. Our primary school, St Mary's, the houses we've lived in... Walked along the Grand Union tow path nearly as far as Dudswell, cut through the fields, marked footpath...

And back through to the main road near the cricket field and rec.

There is a rather large fish in the 'can you spot it' photograph above! Lol

My old primary school looks a bit sad out front!!! When did the tree go? Looks like the roots are still uplifting the playground?

TTFN
Marian