the icing on the cake

these ladies are preparing to give me thirst aid and carry me away on a stretcher. 

trophies

these are all my cups being prepared (best in class, best sprout, best fruitcake and so on) and that is surely a winning smile. Spot loves you too. 

spoils of war

these are all the things that Harriet has pulled out of our garden this year, carefully labelled by date and position. People were shocked. The red labels were the best ones. 

the flower show

Young and old alike remain transfixed by Professor Goodvibes and his Punch and Judy. In the background is the church spire, and the old school.

some moths do have em

this is the enormous caterpillar of the well named elephant hawk moth which we found flying around at home last week, (see http://tamar-valley-life.blogspot.com/2006/07/elephants.html ), this one is doing its combined harvester act on some rosebay willowherb. It is truly enormous.

a few pence

... two small coppers conveniently showing both sides of their wings while refuelling on some fleabane. Fleabane was highly prized for driving away the fleas that lived on grass and rush floors, which is why Harriet and I have been carrying mouthfuls of it home with us. The Romans used it to make wreaths, hmmm.