snow fall

just maybe a white Christmas might happen ...

Mr Darcy takes to the shelter 

(this is tortoise Fred's Summer shed, but now he is hibernating why not share ones abode:)

...  here is Mr Bingley

- but no snow shoes so he isn't touching a single little paw outside!

"Silently, like thoughts that come and go, the snowflakes fall, each one a gem"

X

month of festivities

The Christmas decorations are going up

and the cake is in the oven !

Go Slow

Seeing the world through Fred's eyes

... count down to his Winter hibernation

We found out that Mr Bingley has a heart murmur, but it is mild and his big loving heart just keeps on beating (and he gets extra kisses).

Mr Darcy, well... he just hangs out more as the days turn cooler.

softened light

Mr Darcy wishes to know just HOW many plums we harvested this year?

A L O T

... the Summer flowering keeps on giving ...

Mr Bingley watching the Red Kites overhead (while they watch him)

"... The softened light, the veiling haze

The calm repose of autumn days.."

sleepy head

... "Don't give up on your dreams so soon, sleep longer..."

[Mr Bingley shares advice]

Cat Wisdom

"Those who think they know it all are very annoying to those of us who actually do .."

.. So says Mr Darcy ..

[Cat wisdom - ahem!]

Tortoise Romance

Fred has really come out of his shell this Summer!

He has found romance with a local beauty.

Below is their very first meeting which proved a great success.

She isn't living with us but with a friend nearby; she visits when the weather is fine to 'hang out' with Fred.

Hadrienne - Left | Fred - Right

How to Relax

Mr Darcy is not dead. 

He is relaxing. 

He likes this pose when the sun shines, and lies just where I'm planning to place my laptop. 

It's his thing.

Happy New Year

Mr Bingley is taking the start to 2016 slow and easy.

I mean, why change a habit of a lifetime?!

Wishing all our blogging friends a happy, healthy, prosperous and safe new year.

Jack Frost

Timeless thoughts of a winter's stare;

eyes gazing over a landscape bare.

After a mild Autumn when I even wore a t-shirt outside once while I gardened, 

Jack Frost has arrived!

Mr Darcy navigating the leaf fall and shaking his paws in the cold!

But not for long! In he came to rest a while (actually most of the day - ahem!) on the bed

Mr Bingley knows better than to even venture outside at all!

Keep snug lovely bloggers 

(and those of you in hot climes - well, we envy you :-)

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower....” 

~ Albert Camus 

Haven garden in October...

The yellow rose is from the bush that I managed to save from my late Aunt's Cornish garden, I really thought it might not survive the upheaval, so delighted.

Some of our harvest from the allotment and greenhouse.

Tomatoes were very poor this year though - August was just too cool.

Mr Fred trundled around the garden all Summer, but now he is hibernating (lucky boy -- asleep until Spring)

Rainbows in Oxfordshire

Now, who does that paw belong to...?

Late break in Ibiza was lovely, never been to this 'party' island before and loved it. 

Historic, warm and relaxed at this time of year.

My gorgeous little God daughter -- bit like Fred, she can sleep anywhere!

Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy on their 'magic rug'.

Friends, we all wish you a happy Autumn X

Summertime at Haven

A little life spent. While I was watering the tomatoes last night I spotted this Stag beetle at the bottom of one of my plant pots. Dead:(

I felt the loss because they are endangered and also remarkable creatures.

They pupate for 5 whole years underground before they emerge briefly to mate and then they die.

Did this lad even have time to smell the roses?.. let alone get the chance to signal to a female and 'get it together', before he met his untimely end in my pot?! I so hope so.

I was shocked when I saw that I haven't posted anything since January! 

Life has robbed me of time and then not posting becomes a habit.

I'm breaking that habit and will be visiting you again soon.

I miss my blogging friends.

The garden has flourished this year and is a riot of colour.

Tortoise Fred is in there somewhere....

... Oh, here he is!

... and here are Mr Darcy and My Bingley..

Tails of greeting.

2015 moves on ...

Thank you for taking time to visit and leave messages over the festive period and New Year. 

We loved them all and thought about you.

Baby Ryliee's very first Christmas

Allow me to introduce you to my gorgeous little God Daughter

the annual 'Cat Conga' around the prezzies has become a tradition...

family gatherings and walks by Old Father Thames

Mr Bingley copes admirably with neighbour Otis's indifference to his festive scarf

Mr Darcy finds a new play mate in Mrs Haven's brother

Over New Year we traveled to Cornwall to clear Aunt's home

The fields looked beautiful in the Winter sun

The orchard green but bare of fruit

I took this film of the view from the orchard with my phone.

Hopefully it will play for you... listen out for the pheasant. 

Love to one and all

xXx

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."

 ~ Mother Teresa

how better to welcome in 2015 than through a little one expressing freedom in this way (pic taken walking through the central park in Nice)

Bring on the free spirit!

Ephrussi De Rothschild - a garden to die for.

Hello Mark... a spot of pruning never goes a miss (but this is on a big scale - no house plant in sight!)

Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy are doing what they do best (snooze)

Happy New Year to you all, Take care 

xxXxx

Festive Greetings to You

Long time no see. We have missed you, and perhaps you may have missed us a little too. 

(thank you to Brenda for your message X)

We are all well.

But..

Work has been hard. Distractions have been plentiful. And time is always short.

"Snowball"

I made myself a snowball,

As perfect as could be,

I thought I'd keep it as a pet,

And let it sleep with me.

I made it some pajamas,

And a pillow for its head,

Then last night it ran away,

But first - it wet the bed!

~Shel Silverstein

Bring on 2015 and visiting you all.

Love Helen, Darcy, Bingley and Fred

xxxx

wise man and the tortoise

I open this post following such a long period of blogging neglect; 

BUT with a joyful shot of my dear Father on his 92nd Birthday. 

Some of you may recall my previous post which was full of concern for him. 

His pacemaker is fitted and he is once again back to being a marvel!

Hip hip hooray to Dad

.. and now to introduce you to a new member of our family!

meet Freddie!

He is about 30 years old, and I am still trying to ascertain quite what species he is. 

Suggestions welcomed.

I want to say a special thank you to Cathy over at http://whisppy.blogspot.co.uk/  for her support and guidance (she is a wealth of information about both tortoises and cats and a lovely person too!)

Freddie's first day creates shock waves throughout the feline kingdom of Haven House!

Mr Bingley even throws caution to the wind and attempts the 'conga' dance behind Freddie!

I would like to think that Freddie, if he could, might quote Terry Pratchett at this point...

"You can't trample infidels cats when you're a tortoise. All you could do is give them a meaningful look"

a moment of reflection when Fred meets 'pottery' Fred ... 

His Summer shed is built ... a 'Fred Shed'... but it won't be long before he hibernates for Winter and then he will be sleeping somewhere frost free.

Mr Bingley attempts a 'takeover' on Fred's Shed!

But only Fred sleeps in there 

(... well maybe the odd snail, spider, mouse...too)

The wise man and the tortoise travel but never leave their home.

We look forward to visiting you 

and hope all is well your end.

xxx