Pam J's photos

The gophers have eaten nearly all the Snowdrops and Crocus bulbs.. and the Hyacinths :((

Last Thursday sometime between 9.30am and Noon some scum of a person dumped two little puppies in our drainage ditch.(we live in the middle of nowhere and our road is a track) First I knew of it was when I went up to check for the Mail and a little head popped out of the metal large bore pipe under our Driveway . This was followed by much more yapping and a second pup appearing. I had Nerys with me so I had to have her stay inside the gates and go and see what was going on. Needless to say both pups disappeared back up the pipe ! It took much tempting over 36 hours to get them out. We managed to get them safe and carry them down to our garage and check them over. They were starving but fine . We could not take them inside because it would be totally wrong to expose a new Nerys to any possible harmful bugs . However.. I set up the very big dog crate in the garage and I have made a snug warm den and food and water and they are checked many times. You can guess ... no Shelter wants to help at all.. in fact no-one does. SO ... It seems that having just got Nerys we have two new adopted Boys ...Celt and Saxon ! They look totally different.. but its probable they are still from the same litter. My guess is they are 8-10 weeks old and so friendly and wanting to be loved. They have to be Hounds. Saxon is the bigger pale chunky one and Celt is the smaller. We take Nerys to to Vet on Thursday for her first check over and the puppies go on Friday for their check over and first round of injections. They will then be coming into the house and have the crate den set up for them and the fun begins Its a really big thing to take on with just having got Nerys.. and she needs attention.. but we will manage and all will be loved always. I am a little overwhelmed but it will all work out I am sure. I may not be as prompt answering and commenting for a little while and this will be a juggling act... but All Will Be Well !

Meet Nerys (Welsh Gaelic name meaning "Lady") On Sunday 7th January we went down to Texas to bring home this beautiful 2 years 11 months Great Pyrenees Mountain dog home. She is a rescue and the most beautiful and gentle soul. She has not had much stability in her life but now... this is her Forever Home. Its a slow building of faith and Flicka taught me you just have to take that blind leap of faith. Pyreneen's are very very stubborn and this now is a very steep learning curve.. for both of us. She is a sweet gentle soul sent to me by Flicka and Lucas and the Universe to heal and restore. The Magic begins again.

Meet Nerys (Welsh Gaelic name meaning "Lady") On Sunday 7th January we went down to Texas to bring home this beautiful 2 years 11 months Great Pyrenees Mountain dog home. She is a rescue and the most beautiful and gentle soul. She has not had much stability in her life but now... this is her Forever Home. Its a slow building of faith and Flicka taught me you just have to take that blind leap of faith. Pyreneen's are very very stubborn and this now is a very steep learning curve.. for both of us. She is a sweet gentle soul sent to me by Flicka and Lucas and the Universe to heal and restore. The Magic begins again.

I put cheap feeding pellets out for the wildlife. This youngster could not wait the other day for it to be put into the feeder !

I wish you ... Coal that you be Warm Bread that you may have Food Silver that you may have riches ! Bright Blessings & a Peaceful New Year ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For an Ipernity New Year Round Up www.ipernity.com/blog/team/4689202 and and for all free users: Don't miss the Christmas offer! www.ipernity.com/doc/2319670/45978372

Thankyou ALL for a wonderful year of friendship. I wish you Yuletide Blessings as the Solstice leads us into the beautiful season of Yule. We have possible snow coming Saturday ! Artwork mine own

Photography in some cases is catching the split second of time rapidly. At other times is waiting and being patient. I waited 25 minutes to get a people free photo of this stunning Drum Bridge in the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park . It was not that it was busy.. very few people really but the spacing of them and those who just had to climb it ! Part of its story is in the previous uploaded photo Also called a Moon Bridge en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_bridge

The Drum Bridge is the next photo Easy to read if you click Z It is also known as a Moon Bridge en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_bridge

The 'Treasure Tower' Pagoda in the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park , San Francisco. This Japanese Garden was a pure delight (Incidentally .. the "blown out sky" was a result if the smoke in the air from the wildfires. It created real problems not just for breathing !)

Armistice Day .... Remembrance Day .... Veterans day At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free. Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres, There is music in the midst of desolation And a glory that shines upon our tears. They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted; They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; They sit no more at familiar tables of home; They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; They sleep beyond England's foam. But where our desires are and our hopes profound, Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, To the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the Night; As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain; As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, To the end, to the end, they remain. We will remember them ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In Flanders Fields by Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D. (1872-1918) Canadian Army In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

The smoke from the fires that day was quite heavy. Again . I wanted a less "common" shot. To that end I was on the wrong side of a fence and close to a very big drop off ! It was the only place I could get the piers to line up. Yes.. I know I know... bad Pamy... but who wouldn't among us when its the one chance you have ?!

When I was 5 years old I saw a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge. I said to my Mum .. "I am going to walk that Bridge one day" It was the start of a dream that developed over the next 58 years. The bridgoholic I became(along with Lighthouses and Carousels !) and the want and need to visit San Francisco. It was just that a dream.. to see the Bridge.. to see the Redwoods... to see the Pacific Ocean ... and so much more. This October I was able to realise the dream. A friend and her husband had asked me to stay with them as they live in SF and they asked 5 years ago. Finally this October I was able to go ... and they asked for my Wish List.... and so I wrote it down. They... to whom I can only say a heartfelt "Thankyou" .... made the Wish List into reality. The visit co-insided with the terrible wildfires that caused many deaths and the loss also of 6000 homes and many livelihoods. The air was smokey most days and my heart goes out to all who went through so much

Finally getting a few Monarchs coming through on their way to Mexico for hibernation. Seen fewer than usual.. but I will take what we can get ! I have been in San Francisco for 10 days . It was the holiday I had dreamed of since I was 5 years old. I am still editing pics.. but there will be a few... but the Monarchs are first !

Its almost impossible to catch them nectaring with their wings open. This was a lucky shot !

A joy to see ! EXPLORED !

..... doing what Cucumber Beetles do !! There were dozens of them on the False Sunflowers yesterday ! I have not seen any all Summer ! EXPLORED !

We had wonderful clear skies and approximately an 85% totality for the Total Eclipse . This was an attempt to show it differently. Nature's own pinhole cameras. A zillion Eclipses made by the Sun through the trees