Brittany

For the first stage of our holiday we stayed in Brittany, outside a small town not far from Vannes. It was less than a ten minute walk from the campsite to the coast, and there were well organised and maintained paths along the coast in both directions. These first few pictures are all very local, taken within walking distance of the campsite.

These pictures are from the longest trip we took while in Brittany, to the Parc naturel régional de Brière. We found part of it to be very poorly signposted and wasted enough time that we never made it to Guérande afterwards, which we had hoped to. But we got to see a very interesting documentary about life in the area at the time when all the men worked in the big ship-building yard at St Nazaire.
And we did, eventually find the Réserve Ornithologique Pierre Constant, where we had a lovely walk; most of the following photos are from there. We got to see some black spoonbills, as well as a lot of different birds of prey.

on the îsle de Fedrun

view over the marshland from one of the hides

harvested reeds, outside the interprative centre at Pierre Constant

Black Spoonbill

drifting seed from some tree

July Favourites...

One of these days I will find time to start editing photos from France!!
As a starter, these are  just a quick pick.

Quiberon, Brittany

View towards Lac Chambon, Auvergne

View from cable-car station, Puy de Sancy, Auvergne

Biganos Port, Bassin d'Arcachon

Cap Ferret, looking across the Bassin to the Dune de Pyla

And I have quite a few favourite cards from July, since I made samples for several of the DTGD challenges over on Splitcoast.

Tons of masking here...

A first attempt at using image transfer medium, with an old Kate Greenaway book

From the Archives 2

We were away in France for 3 weeks, and I am still trying to catch up with myself as far as photos go!

In the meantime, here are my favourites from the cards I made during the second half of my time on the Dirty Dozen over at Splitcoast.

Baby Blues

I was sitting outside late this afternoon enjoying half an hour in the sun; there seemed to be an inordinate amount of noise from the hedge. I took a look round the corner of the house, and was rewarded by seeing these...and a baby robin too!

May favourites

Favourite cards from May - and a new blog header. Looking through photos from last June, we had a lot of young birds. I think it's been so cold that everything is much later this year - I haven't seen any yet. I nearly picked a header of a juvenile starling, but in the end (probably!) went with a swan.

Wicklow in the sun...

Yesterday was a beautiful morning, and a warm but not so sunny afternoon. We made the effort to get out of the house quite early, and went for a drive round the Blessington Lakes and then down Wicklow Gap to Laragh. When we stopped at one of the little car parks just before Laragh, the smell from the gorse was just heavenly! The sunshine really brings it out.

Got the Blues ?

Spotted this on the way to work this morning. I loved the look of the burnt texture at the bottom of the door.

Being the end of the year, there's a student exhibition on in the National College of Art and Design, and I'm sure this is part of it. I wish the gallery opened earlier and I could go in before work - I usually just want to head straight home afterwards.

Should have a few more swan photos in a day or two when I edit them. I took this one looking down the river towards the sun, so there wasn't much editing needed.

A Surprise and a Soup

The current photo challenge over on SCS is animals, and I was expecting to find it difficult - apart from people walking their dogs. However, when I walked over to the library on Saturday to pick up a DVD I had reserved, I came across something of a surprise!

I also managed to snap a grey squirrel up in the tree tops - it seemed to be pulling all the tender tips off and dropping a lot of them on the ground - not so good for the tree.

I wanted a change from the soups that I usually make, and since I had just been tidying through my store cupboard and was aware that I had some green split peas, I tried this recipe from Anna Thomas' "Love Soup". It was really good, we both liked it and I will make it again. But next time I will allow the split peas to soak longer, or give them more cooking time. They were quite old and I probably didn't allow for that!

Carol's Finnish Pea Soup with Apples from "LOVE SOUP" by Anna Thomas
Serves 6-7

1 1/2 cups / 12 ounces dried green split peas
2 large carrots
2 medium stalks celery
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp dry
1 bay leaf
1 large onion (250g)
3 tblsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp salt plus more to taste - I don't think I used this much
1 large apple (250g)
12 ounced (350g) frech or frozen green peas
1 tsp coriander seeds roasted and ground
1/4 tsp fresh grated nutmeg
1 tblsp Dijon mustard
1 tblsp cider vinegar
2 cups/500ml light vegetable broth
Hot paprika or cayenne to taste

Wash the split peas and put in a large pot with 6 cups/1 1/2 litres water. Peel and finely dice the carrots, trim and finely dice the celery and add to the peas along with the thyme and bayleaf. Bring to the boil, reduce heat, cover and cook for about half an hour.
Meanwhile chop the onion and sauté it in 1 tblsp of the oil, with a little salt, till it is soft and golden brown.
Peel and core the apple and dice finely. She didn't say whether this should be a cooking apple or an eating one - I went for a slightly tart eating one that would keep its shape better. Add to the soup, along with the sautéed onion, and cook for another fifteen minutes. Then add the fresh/frozen peas, coriander, nutmeg, mustard, vinegar, salt, pinch of paprika and the vegetable broth. Simmer for another fifteen minutes. Add more salt if required, and more cayenne/paprika if you would like it spicier. Stir in the remaining olive oil just before serving.
I partially liquidised mine with a wand blender ; she says it can be served as it is or puréed, but I like some texture in my soups so I went with a half and half option.