What have we been up to? ......becoming a year older.

July is always a busy month for us in the spottydog household with festivals, allotmenting and because both me and David have birthdays, one day after the other. 

On my birthday, the rain rain rain came down down down and did not stop. We are not people who let the weather stop us having fun and we decided it would be good day to visit Exbury Gardens.

 

We were the only visitors there in the gardens and it was a truly magical time walking around listening to the rain pitter patter and gush,

enjoying the lushness of the leaves and flowers. It smelt devine, the rain really brought out the scents of all the beautiful plants. I liked to imagine we were in fact in a tropical rainforest and adventuring out into tropics.

 

We took a little trip around on the steam train. Eddie really is a dog that is happy to do anything as long as he is with me, he was quite content to sit on the train, rest his head on the window and watch the park whizz past. 

 

We ended the day with tea and cake at the cafe, aptly named Eddies cafe (after the founder of the garden). Exbury Gardens is a lovely place to visit, whether the sun is shining or mother nature is watering the plants and flowers. It's great they allow dogs inside and this garden really is a magical place for an adventure! 

( http://www.exbury.co.uk/website/default.aspx )

Cities by the sea

We are lucky to live where we do. Southampton city centre is a short drive to the New Forest, South Downs and beaches.
Recently we have been making the most of the beautiful warm weather and going down to the beach whenever we get chance. The sea makes me feel happy and Eddie LOVES swimming in the sea so much.

The week before last we were having a very hectic week with work but since I have no studying to do at the moment (hooray) we took time out and packed a picnic after work. We headed down to Victoria Country Park, which has a small beach which is sheltered enough for Ed to swim since it is on Southampton water. We had a lovely evening sitting by the tall trees and watching all the boats sail past.

We also went to Hayling Island for a little visit on the way to visit my mum and dad the other weekend too. It has been a while since we have ventured down there and we were pleasantly surprised at how quiet in was down on the beach.

Beaching whatever the weather

Splish splash splosh

Last weekend we spent a very sunny Sunday at Southsea seafront. We went to a little mini festival at the bandstand to see an electro-swing band called Electric Swing Circus. It was such a fun day. Dancing really is an excellent therapy! Eddie enjoyed a little swim in the Solent again, there is no way we can head to the seafront and not let him swim!

Can I swim now?

Summer dog 

Historic cannon views from Southsea Castle

Awesome sailing boat

There is nothing better than live music in the sunshine 

Get out there people and enjoy the place you live, whatever the weather there is always something fun to do !

Vintage Summer Fayre Fun

We live in a lovely area of Southampton with a lovely community spirit. The area in which we live is home largely to young professionals and students and we are lucky enough to have a range of community events taking place in our area throughout the year.
Today Bedford Place hosted a vintage themed summer festival. David, Eddie and myself took a walk down to see what was going on this morning, after a lovely lie in and lazy breakfast in the sunshine.

The festival takes place in the car park and road around the Bedford Place area. The roadside was lined with a selection of Hampshire Farmers Market stalls selling a range of local and homemade food goodies.  David always enjoys trying all the little foodie bits and today bought a Dinosaur Pasty from the pie stall. (I don't think it contains actual dinosaur meat).

We had a wander around the vintage stalls and enjoyed looking at all the bits and bobs for sale. I bought a retro style tin sign for the kitchen. I am trying to get a collection of these to put up in the kitchen, I think it will go well with the apple green walls and brighten up the space where I spend so much time.

There was music and Lindy Hop dancing going on, and many people were joining in. I had a little boogie on my own because David point blank does not do dancing.
Eddie was keen to join in though, even though he doesn't have very good rhythm!

The highlight of the morning however, was the vintage bus, which you could go into and sit in the drivers seat!! So much fun!

It is events like this that make me feel happy to live in Southampton, a place where many people would claim nothing is every going on. There is a lot more going on in our town than you think, you just need to get out there, find it and get involved!

                                                        Bicycle powered ice cream delivery

                                                    Vintage florals and dapper dog                                     
   

                                                       Beep Beep!

                                              Lindy Hopping            

                                                        Electro - swing with the Still Moving DJ's

                                             Happy Sunday Adventures 

                                            A gift from my beau

                                          Retro signage for my green kitchen 

                                              Love this soppy spotty dog

WELCOME TO OUR WORLD

Let us begin. I am Laura, I am a happy, smiley,  vegetarian who loves nature, caring for mother earth, bees, the sea, indie and folk music, art, colour, tea,
creating, cake baking, photographing, tea,
board gaming ,playing djembe and clarinet, tea,
picnics in the summer and winter , vegetable growing, flowers and herbs in my house and my garden and cups of tea.

Eddie would also like to introduce himself
"I am  a Labrador cross with a coat of many colours. I love sleeping, swimming, giving cuddles to any human, dog or cat that will have one, playing football, exploring the New Forest, running as fast as I can at the beach.
I  am a lazy dog so spend equal amounts of my time being super enthusiastic about stuff or snoozing the day away. I really love weekends when I can have a lie in until 10am!
I really really hate feathers (you never know when they might blow your way).  Oh and the hamster that moved into my living room (I think his name is Ned) is totally petrifying!"

 We have had so many funs together so far, some of which we will remember and share with you here, and will have many more in the future.