Friday 27 September 2019

Daily photo challenge round up (week 4)

Oh my lovelies, I can't apologise enough for my absolute forgetfulness; it's shameful and believe me I am writing this with my head hung. I still haven't written about the allotment from 2? weeks ago and last weekend we did more hiking which I have neglected to get blogged for prosperity!

I need to go on an intravenous caffeine dip or I'll never get stuff done...

HOWEVER it is Friday (again!!) and thus it is time for a daily photo prompt round up in association with Fat Mum Slim.

We've come to the end of our alphabet and towards the end of the month - eek!. It's been enjoyable and I think I may be getting my camera groove back 😀 The last few days are non-alphabet prompts, as you will see here with 'Words' being today's prompt.

 U is for Unicorn talisman; always on my backpack.


V is for a View of the Virginia Creeper through the Viewfinder of a Vintage camera 😀

W is for Woven.

 X is for, well an X. Cross stitched with many little x stitches to make up the whole.


 Y is for the Yellow signs we followed all along the Cumbria Way this spring.


Z is for Zen-like (how I feel when meditating with my Tibetan singing bowl)

Words...of encouragement spray painted on the tarmac 🤗

And there we have it for another week. I endeavour to my fingers tippy tapping on the keyboard more this week coming and catch up on myself. 

HUGS
Carrie x

Friday 20 September 2019

Daily photo challenge round up (week 3)

It's amazing but I'm out and about hiking this Friday with Andrew again (he's taking a holiday day to capture this amazing weather) and thus I will be taking my photo for today ('T') whilst doing that. I'll have to do another updated post 😄

Also, and this shows what an idiot I am... I forgot to share with you my triumphant return to the allotment last Saturday! I understand if you "tut" at me but I will make reparations and fill you in soon. I shall tease you by adding that we had a great wee harvest and the place looked, umm, memorable.

Anyway the weekly round up in association with Fat Mum Slim,will wait for no-one!

N is for Namaste, friend

O is for Organ in a church in Ballycastle

P is for Pink Petals and Penpal letters

Q is for Quintessentially Toby. He loves a darn good nap in his cosy bed but pick up a camera and that eye opens instantly! 

R is for Rich Radiant Red Boston ivy in the back garden. A stunner already 🍁

S is for Skull. in this case a badger's skull.

T?

Monday 16 September 2019

The Carntogher History Trail

Hiking the Carntogher history trail - photo by Andrew Gault for 'A Stubborn Optimist' blog

"Carrie, thy name is Vanity!" I rebuked myself out loud...
Why was I was wearing foundation on my face whilst out hill-walking? That's not me. Dear friend, lashings of factor 50 was what I needed on this gorgeous and sweaty day. But then I only realised that when we were half way up this strenuous mountain climb battling through waist high flax and bog.

OK, it was actually just a gorgeous big hill with some dodgy mucky areas, then an old cobbled carriage road under foot; perfect for my first hike in months. It was just that the sun was blazing, there was no shade and my hip hurt...


Welcome to the Carntogher area near Maghera (County Londonderry), a very important archaeological and environmental area with the best ever views of our wonderful countryside. The walks there are signposted by a local group called 'An Carn' and facilitate 'a greater understanding of our past and [tracing] man's impact on the local environment from the neolithic period to the present day.'
(Their logo is also in the shape of the hill we climbed :))

Carntogher history trail photo 1 - Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog
All was flat as we started our ascent

Carntogher history trail photo 2 - Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog
Getting right up to the top and looking back

Carntogher history trail photo 3 - Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog
A a bronze age cyst on the way down :)

Carntogher history trail photo 4 - Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog
Gorgeous old farms and abandoned farm houses along the way

Carntogher history trail photo 5- Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog
Very quiet country roads for miles

Love and hugs
Carrie

Friday 13 September 2019

Daily photo challenge round up (week 2) UPDATED

Thank you for your comments you gorgeous people - I do so love you and feel well and truly welcomed back  to the blogging world - *hugs* I will get around to reading all your posts very soon!

I'm off on an adventure with Andrew today looking at some important archaeological sites; he was going for work and I asked to come along. So, my Friday photo will be taken whilst I'm out hiking I'm hoping.

So here we go with this the letter prompts for this week G to M 😀. Thanks as always go to the fabulous Australian Fat Mum Slim.

G is for Gorgeous dark Grey stones in my new birthday bangle. (Plus a Gorgeous rose!)

 H is for..Heather in bloom up in the wilds of the Causeway Coast.

I is for Incense

J is for jigsaw!

K could only be for Knitted. I knitted this person when I was a kid and they have guarded my books gallantly ever since.

L is for Lichens and Leaves on the forest floor.

M is for moss. I love moss


Love and hugs
Carrie x

Friday 6 September 2019

A new start and weekly photo challenge round up (week 1)

Sometimes my intentions aren't easily converted onto actions. I struggle with myself and the things I want to do are foremost in my mind but simply won't come to fruition.

I've had photographer's block and writer's block; that is, 'bloggers block' for a very long time now. So long that for me writing even this is like pulling my own teeth.

I shall just get this awkwardness over with and say "Hello dear friend, I'm back!"

I'm starting up with the weekly Friday 'daily photo review' again. If you remember I joined up with the fabulous Fat Mum Slim last year, doing her prompts for daily photography inspiration (I did a total of 27 weeks running)along with hundreds of other people all over the world.

This month we are doing the alphabet to begin with so....


A is for Advertising

B - Box of Belgian Chocolates.

 C is for Coffee beans


D is for Diana F+ 😁
I haven't used this and I ought to, shame on me.

E is for Elephant and rather extravagant one too.


F is for Ferns in the Forest.
Beautiful Glenarm forest last Sunday

Hugs and love
Carrie