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What’s The Story? | 3rd February 2014

Hello everyone! Welcome to What’s The Story? for w/c 3rd February 2014.

Thank you for joining in last week, so many wonderful reads and great variety too. Some of the faves included Somewhere only we know, Two bookends and a T, Meeting Mickey and Minnie, I miss diving, A perfect couple, Something beautiful, Remembering Gran, Porchester Castle and A day at the beach. We loved those fabulous jumping tips too!

I enjoy writing the travel posts from those carefree days before we were parents – the look back at our Tahitian honeymoon was wonderful. It’s always good to mix it up though so this week we’re exploring a farm!

If you’re new here, What’s The Story? is a photography based Linky that enables you to share the stories behind your photographs. It’s open from 6.30am every Monday through to Sunday.

To join in with What’s The Story?, all you have to do is share a photograph and the story behind it. You can write as little or much as you like and your photo/s can be from any time – old or new. You can link up a old post too if it’s relevant.

You’ll find What’s The Story? posts from previous weeks here if you fancy catching up or indeed seek inspiration!

Feel free to use the What’s The Story? badge or link back here – I’m happy to share your post in return. Please do take the time to comment on some of your fellow bloggers posts when you can.

Have a great week everyone #whatsthestory

Silent Sunday

Project 365: Week #5

There’s a definite pattern emerging now we’ve reached the fifth week. On work days the default is escaping into the garden to take advantage of the natural light – so far its proved more inspiring than the office! Either side of the working week, we try to get out when we can. This week has seen POD back in a swimming pool, handling animals at a farm and exploring the woods.

Welcome to Project 365: Week #5.

Day 26

Sunday saw us visit the local swimming pool in a quest to build POD’s water confidence. She had the best time so we hope to go regularly from here on. POD was exhausted afterwards but refused to sleep – opting to lie on the floor to watch Tangled instead! Her hair looks so dark in this photograph although the blonde remains further down.

Day 27

POD wanted to see the animals so we headed over to Bocketts Farm which is set in the Surrey countryside. After chatting to a collection of animals, and laughing at Mummy feeding them, she got to handle a guinea pig, a rabbit and a chicken. Not to mention test her driving skills on a couple of tractors – still with her Peppa Pig hairclip in!

Day 28

The usual routine from today for the rest of the week – this is the first of a few photographs taken in the rain. Although not a fan of flash, I do love the effect its had on this tiny leaf.

Day 29

No idea what these are but they so resemble miniature tennis balls!

Day 30

This wonderful berry bush always draws me outside – it’s just asking to be photographed. It almost looks like you can see my reflection in one of those rain drops!

Day 31

There was no gap in the rain today. I spotted this bud whilst eating lunch so it was a quick dash out and back in again. It shows!

Day 32

We took advantage of the sunshine today with a walk in the National Trust owned Abinger Roughs. Amazingly we spotted a rabbit and a pheasant before we’d even parked! The Roughs comprises of beautiful woodland including gnarled Oaks, some of which are 300 years old. It was the perfect place to blow away those cobwebs. POD rarely faces camera so this photograph was the result after asking her if she’d seen the elephant!

Everybody Loves Butterflies

Everybody Loves Butterflies is a great book about a Little Caterpillar that doesn’t want to turn into a butterfly. Although his brothers and sisters had turned into butterflies, and he knew he would too, Little Caterpillar wanted to stay a caterpillar forever.

The Little Caterpillar’s friends try to explain to him that change is good. A dragonfly said butterflies are all the colours of the rainbow but the Little Caterpillar thought that would just make him dizzy.

A bee said the Little Caterpillar would be able to eat “deeeliciious” nectar from flowers but the caterpillar liked the satisfying crunch of leaves. An ant told him he’d see the world but the caterpillar said he was happy where he was.

A robin mentioned butterflies could fly high in the sky but the caterpillar said the sky seemed an awfully long way away. A spider added that everybody loves butterflies. When the spider asked who loves caterpillars, the Little Caterpillar replied “I do”.

The Little Caterpillar went to see the owl as he was the oldest and wisest animal he knew. He asked if he could stay a caterpillar for ever and ever. The wise owl explained the caterpillar would still be him just with wings. That night the Little Caterpillar snuggled down deep and had a long, long sleep.

When he woke, he had wings – glorious wings with red and purple spots! He ate nectar from the flowers, flew loop-the-loop and said “I want to be a butterfly for ever and ever” as he waved to his friends.

We absolutely adored Everyone Loves Butterflies. Not only is it a great story about the life cycle of the butterfly (or “butt-fly”), it’s a wonderful read and beautifully illustrated. Our three year old has enjoyed hearing about the Little Caterpillar but also likes to comment on the other creatures that feature in the book too.

Everybody Loves Butterflies has given her a better understanding of the process from caterpillar to butterfly. Rather handily there is a page explaining the life cycle of a butterfly at the end of the story. This has enabled us to talk through what’s involved in more detail. It’s especially poignant as we saw butterflies in the Glasshouse at RHS Wisley recently.

Everybody Loves Butterflies is written by Tanis Taylor and illustrated by Masumi Furukawa. It’s a fabulous book and available from Amazon (RRP £5.99).

Disclaimer: As a Parragon Book Buddy we received a copy of Everybody Loves Butterflies for the purpose of this review. All opinions are our own.

Butterflies in the Glasshouse

We’re frequent visitors to RHS Wisley but there’s something special about their Butterflies in the Glasshouse event.

The state-of-the-art Glasshouse is huge, it’s 40ft high and occupies an area equivalent to 10 tennis courts. Inside are tropical, moist and dry climatic zones as well as a world class plant collection. The palms, creepers and bright flowers make you feel like you’re in the jungle.

Whenever you go to the Glasshouse, you can expect to see rare and endangered species not to mention beautiful orchids. An annual event, the exotic butterfly event is held in the tropical zone where you’ll find lush foliage and dramatic flowers. It’s environment is similar to that of a tropical rain forest so it’s warm.

A butterfly spotter guide is provided when you arrive so you know what to look for and what you’ve seen. POD was hugely excited about seeing the butterflies even though she did refer to them as “butt-flies”. There are also gigantic chrysalis sculptures in the Glasshouse for the duration of the event.

The butterfly below is a Blue Morpho – it’s the most fabulous colour blue when its wings are open. It teased a few times but it was adamant that shot wasn’t there for the taking!

This is an Asian Swallowtail covered in pollen.

This is two Owl butterflies looking like they’re watching you.

This black and white one is a Tree Nymph.

And this is a Clipper.

It’s a wonderful experience seeing the butterflies at RHS Wisley. This year you can book a timed slot if you’re visiting over the weekend. It’s so much better, we arrived first thing and didn’t queue at all.

After the butterflies, POD had a practice on her scooter and we had a relaxing wander around the gardens. We then checked out the new food hall – sampling coffee and cake in the process!

If you’d like to see more photographs, head over to Butterflies in the Glasshouse (part two).

Linking up with #CountryKids at Coombe Mill and #HDYGG at Mammasaurus.

A taste of Moorea, Tahiti

This photograph was taken on our honeymoon in 2004. Located in the South Pacific, Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia. It’s 2,700 miles from Hawaii and 3,500 miles from Australia.

Travelling to Tahiti the day after our wedding probably wasn’t the best idea we’ve ever had. But we weren’t to know our flight would be grounded just before take-off due to failed air conditioning!

Our airport welcome was like no other – it was a very happy place. There singing, dancing and garlands of tropical flowers were placed around our necks. Tahitians and visitors to the country are often seen with a flower in their hair too. It’s a tradition that if you’re single you wear a flower behind your right ear and if you’re spoken for it’s the left.

Our first stop was Tikehau in the Tuamotu Islands which is described as one of the Pacific’s best kept secrets. A beautiful beach bungalow that overlooked low-lying atolls was home for the first few days. We chilled, we snorkeled and we ate. It was our chance to slow down after a hectic few weeks and the perfect start to our honeymoon.

The Society Islands, which include Tahiti itself, are lush and mountainous – a complete contrast to the tranquility of the Tuamoto Islands. Beaches are lined with palm trees and the turquoise lagoons are crystal clear. Moorea (Mo’orea) was formed as a volcano several million years ago and is the result of a geologic hotspot in the mantle under the oceanic plate.

Our accommodation in Moorea was an overwater bungalow with direct access into the lagoon. There you could feed the fish that darted about your legs with bread that was left by staff. At night you’d see fish swimming underneath your coffee table through a glass panel in the floor.

The two restaurants and bar served us well. One evening we got the opportunity to experience a Tahitian dance. A colourful show that mesmerised its audience with fast paced dancing and thunderous drums. The POD Father was one of the lucky visitors invited to join in!

One night we ventured out of the resort for dinner. During our walk to the restaurant we saw the ground was littered with numerous holes around ten inches in diameter. We didn’t know what they were so we crept really slowly for a time. They were crabs – giant land crabs. Hundreds of them would simultaneously dart into the ground when they sensed you approach. We ate on resort after that!

Swimming with sharks and stingrays was our most memorable excursion. The sharks were fed while we were in the water and although slightly nerve wracking it was amazing. Stingrays are beautiful creatures – quite calming to watch. Another trip out saw us travel by jeep up the mountains. It was a hairy journey, terrifying at times, but the panoramic views from the peak were outstanding. We were rewarded by the guide in a local brewery who made us drink c.10 shots one after the other!

Tahiti is the most amazing country and the people there are wonderful. It was a truly memorable honeymoon.

We’re linking this post up with What’s The Story?, a weekly Linky that enables you to share the stories behind your photographs. The Linky for w/c 27th January 2014 is here.

Also joining The Gallery at Sticky Fingers where the prompt for this week is Rewind.

Living Arrows

This is a photograph of POD at RHS Wisley in Surrey. She got to enjoy exotic butterflies in The Glasshouse, try out her scooter and enjoy a walk around the gardens. She wanted to play Pooh Sticks from this bridge but the water is still.

Located at the foot of the Surrey Hills, Clandon Park is a spectacular example of a Palladian mansion. We headed over for their Wildlife Fact Finding Trail which had us following boards around the garden. This is POD taking a well needed rest after completing it.

Linking up with Living Arrows at I Heart Snapping.

What’s The Story? | 27th January 2014

Hello everyone and welcome to What’s The Story? for w/c 27th January.

Thank you for joining in last week, so many amazing posts again. Some of the faves included A first holiday, Love never ends, Fright night, A Cornish gnome in Scotland, A day of kites, sun and sand, Team Honk Bournmouth leg, Dad went to London to see the Queen, Time for a cuppa, Barry Bear comes to stay and Monkey and Mouse in fancy dress. We loved photographs from Saturday Sunset, Reflection part 4, Experimenting with light and Pirate Party.

If you’re new here, What’s The Story? is a photography based Linky that enables you to share the stories behind your photographs. It’s open from 6.30am every Monday through to Sunday.

To join in with What’s The Story?, all you have to do is share a photograph and the story behind it. You can say as little or much as you like in your post and your photo/s can be from any time – old or new. You can link up a old post too if it’s relevant.

You’ll find What’s The Story? posts from previous weeks here if you fancy catching up or indeed seek inspiration!

Feel free to use the What’s The Story? badge or link back here – I’m happy to share your post in return. Please do take the time to comment on some of your fellow bloggers posts when you can.

Have a great week everyone #whatsthestory

Silent Sunday

Project 365: Week #4

Incredible to think we’ve already reached the fourth week of Project 365! January always seems to speed past and this year is no different. We managed to take advantage of the better weather last Sunday and today though. It’s great being outdoors and breathing in that fresh air even if it’s not for long.

Welcome to Project 365: Week #4.

Day 19

It was a gorgeously sunny day so we headed over to the National Trust’s Clandon Park for some family fun. POD had to sit down after the Wildlife Fact Finding Trail. It’s tough being three.

Day 20

POD saw a visit to Hobbycraft as a great opportunity for a run around while her craft laden Mummy attempting to catch her. She had little interest in making a snowman when we arrived home. Instead opting to wear the polystyrene we’d bought on her head before attempting to eat it.

Day 21

The usual routine today although I managed to capture the tail end of an incredible sunset. The rest of the evening consisted of making a snowman for a competition at POD’s nursery.

Day 22

Spent a few minutes enjoying a little magic in the garden and noticed this dew laden web.

Day 23

Before nursery I caught POD in her room reading to all her ‘friends’. By all, I mean all her dollies and soft toys – each of which was put in a straight line.