goodbye, Cassie, old and faithful friend

Cassie was put quietly to sleep this afternoon. We shall miss her great, soft, intelligent, loyal, mischievous contribution to our lives. The muddy paws, the hoarse barking, the great lurcher skill of extremely surreptitious thieving whenever possible, the log carrying, the joy of living, soft brown eyes, the woolly waterproof coat ... everything that makes a canine friend. Much of her life since 2005 is recorded intermittently in Spot's blog who was of course her favourite son. It was a good life.

redshank

a redshank that has just arrived to spend the winter in the Camel estuary

quarry tails

soft grey colours in the quarry on Kit Hill, and one inhabitant showing off the length of his tail. It is worth clicking on the Kit Hill label (see list to the right) to see how this little patch of granite varies so much through the year.

rainbows

It has been that kind of weather, sharp showers and bright sun, with gold at the end of the lane.

herb robert

Herb Robert is usually pink with leaves tinged with red, and reddish stems. This appears to be the white form which is described as occasional although I have never seen it before. It is growing in the same field where we find the double/multiple forms of mayflower. There must be something in the soil (probably radon). Not quite as exciting as grizzlies and bald headed eagles but at least we know the names of the wild flowers around here.

this is not Cornwall

Black Rock at Ucluelet, British Columbia, on the edge of the Pacific ocean, just after a storm. How we pine for the heat of Cornwall.