My constant companions. Friends, if you like.

At the Jetty Museum, just outside Windermere, can be seen Beatrix Potter's little row boat. It has a flat bottom, so that it can be used in the shallow waters of a tarn.

Stories say it was made from old floorboards. The boat sank in 1950, and was dredged up in 1976 and was restored.

This is a 1956 Lamborghini DL25 tractor that I was lucky to see at Joe Macari's showroom in 2019.

(Yes, I'm digging through my archive!).

The DL25 had a 2.5 litre twin-cylinder diesel engine, making 25 bhp. It was designed to be simple to operate and easy to repair by the farmer.

It was the Italian equivalent of the famous Ferguson TE20 ('Little Grey Fergy').

a light dusting of snow on Black Combe, the southernmost fell.

good morning, Flickrverse!

The 'holy trinity' (onion, celery, carrot) is joined by capsicum, garlic, a handful of dried herbs.

Soup in progress

by paginabianca89 ift.tt/1MaAmxg

While googling about steak pie I discovered that pie, mash, and gravy, with peas (optionally!), is a "quintessentially London working class meal". Well, given that chicken tikka masala is often quoted as "England's unofficial national dish" I thought I would buck the trend and return to my roots for tea today.

The trick is in the gravy!

Walk about a bit. What's new? Look up and be amazed.

Mestre train station, winter sunrise.

Android Shot.

I made pickled cucumber this weekend. It's so easy and quick and hones your knife skills. Slice cucumber, sweet red pepper (for color), garlic. Chop dill. Rest in a colander for 30 mins. Make the pickling brine and allow to cool. Pack the cucumber etc into clean jars. Add the brine.. I like it a bit warm. Make sure all is covered. Close lids and refrigerate. This can keep up to 3 months. It will be less crisp then but full of flavor and all its nutrients. Lecker!

Blackbirds are members of the thrush family, meaning they are quite happy to dwell on the ground. They are also quite calm about people being around. This one knows me well as I see him several times each day.

My lunch service had finished, so he had to make do with worms. Might be a good idea =]

Not a bad way to feel.

Some plants seem to spring from nowhere.

It's worth getting down to meet them.

The will to live and love is so strong that bars and fences don't deter them

In Oxford, scientists have discovered a highway of enormous dinosaur tracks. I wonder if this is at the northern end of it.

Seen today on a vacant shop front in Lancaster.

Wolf howling at the moon is one of Banksy's.

I wonder how long it will remain in place.

Entertaining house-guests needs a bit of care and attention. This kind of ladybird likes pollen from geraniums and lavender. I have neither growing, but a source of pollen is honey (only between 0.1 and 0.4 percent, but better than nothing) so I thought I'd smear a little raw honey on my window frame. As you can see, she is lapping it up.

This honey comes from Ukraine, and is mild but tasty. You can find it at your local Oxfam shop, and it's very reasonably-priced.

Pretty. Poisonous.

Listen here:

archive.org/details/grover-washington-jr.-feat.-bill-with...

Spent the morning learning about 'wet on wet' application of paints. Part of the learning experience was to create the figures first, and add the background afterwards. Counter-intuitive, and testing. Above all, it was fun.

Crocuses in the morning sun.

Reading in the cafe at The Harris.

A small but interesting poetry section at the library. And a great pot of Lancashire tea.

"Sean Thomas Dougherty | The Poetry Foundation" www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/sean-thomas-dougherty

Found at the bottom of a hedge. It deserves its day in the sun.

Apparently this was the oldest supplier to business photography. Shut now.

By a group member

A bowl of daffs was on my counter so during a quiet moment I thought a painting was in order.

it was today's moment of joy.

Ask for Clive is a UK charity whose mission is to make places welcoming and safe for everyone, especially LGBTQIA.

They have partnered with many clubs and pubs to help make them safer spaces.

What shall i do with all these tomato plant leaves? It's so end of season.

for the BW-Project2019

The story unfolds. I couldn't hear the narrative and was clueless from start to finish.

Eastbourne

A hop, skip and a jump from the abandoned boot is this charming little bag.

Did this go, and then the boot? Or maybe the other way around.

Great is the mystery of life.

Reminds me of Yerevan in the fog. I've been helping to paint a room in grey. The under coat was dodgy and the surface so porous. Breaking for tea i spotted this. I rather like the effect. Too bad it will disappear as it dries.

I adore brutalist architecture.