The Winning Post...

...at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California.

See it?  On the other side of the race track

in black and white.

What makes this scene for me is that mountain range.

Here is a better shot of Mount Wilson with Mr LOL too.  

No mountains in Coventry, England.  Something I really do miss seeing.

It was a treat to visit Santa Anita Park (not far from Pasadena).

There was no racing, no public.  (Next racing - 27th September 2013.)

It felt like we had the place to ourselves.

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

Have a good weekend everyone!
Will show a few more holiday pics next week then back to the Coventry scene.

Message from Auntie Lauren...

...I mean The LOLfromPasa :).  But first, to my favorite tree:

Not much has changed in the last month except for the

addition of some nice clouds behind this grand oak tree.

I am planning to take a little break from this

wonderful hobby.  Lots planned and plenty of jobs to get on with 

so I must pause from blogging for just a little while.  

So until I return, I am requesting that you all

stay well and keep taking those fabulous photos!

Cheers!

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel

Happy Friday

I am pretty much speechless :).  It has been an exhausting week.

So I will simply wish you all well.

Have a good weekend.

If you get a chance, do watch the Women's British Open 

from St. Andrews, Scotland.

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel

Photograph taken at Coombe Country Park, 2nd June, 2013.

Another First

This is the first time I have seen a hot air balloon on the ground.

We were visiting family in Monks Kirby a couple of hours ago.

Our drive home takes us past Coombe Country Park.

It was my iPhone to the rescue again!

There were 12 people in the basket 

heading off for an hour's ride

across beautiful English countryside.

Coombe Abbey Hotel is in the distance

in the photograph below.

Have a chilled weekend all.  

I am going to do the same.  

I look forward to visiting your blogs over the weekend.

Participating in 

Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

Princethorpe College

The prominent tower in the distance is Princethorpe College.  

This is the last shot I took after we went on a tour there on Monday. 

The college is located in the small village of Princethorpe, quite near Coventry. 

The shot below is the first photo I took that evening.  

I will share some photos from inside next week.

Mr LOL and I started doing some genealogy work on his family a few years ago.  We knew that in the early 1900's his grandfather lived in Princethorpe.  What we didn't know was that his great uncle was buried here with other family members. What a discovery when we just happened to stop by to have a look not that long ago.

Participating in Skywatch Friday (celebrating seven years today - congratulations!) and Ein Stück Himmel.

I am still with tooth.  Less pain but it is going to have to come out.  Something to look forward to next week, I guess.  Have a super weekend.  Weather is good here.  Yes, it is!

Identification Please

I have been watching this field for a couple of weeks now.

It is beautiful with acres of lilac/purple flowers.

As excited as I am to see some blue sky,

I would really love to know what 

this farmer is growing here.

I can identify those pretty red poppies.

Any ideas what those delicate lilac flowers are?

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

Have a sunny weekend!

Back To The Family

I am hopelessly captivated by these swans.

Can you blame me.  It is just about

to rain (again), but I don't care.

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel

Have a terrific weekend and for those of you who follow tennis,

enjoy Wimbledon.

White Sky...

...with a hint of blue.

Happy Friday all.  I am going to spend a lot of time this weekend catching up on YOUR photographs.

Hope to share some photos of Lincoln next week.  Spent the day there yesterday.

Have a super weekend !!!

Taken Wednesday morning.  Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel. 

Not That Far From Coventry...

...Mablethorpe.

This was taken last week during our little trip to the seaside.  It only took us just over a couple of hours and we were on the beach. The beach here is vast and sandy.

Those are beach huts and the next shot is of the beach with that wind vehicle being pursued by a dog (look carefully).

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

It is the weekend again, nearly:).  Have a good one.  PS.  Happy Flag Day to you in USA.

110 Miles From Coventry...

...to the seaside.

What did we do Wednesday?  Went to the Lincolnshire Coast and discovered Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve in Skegness.  Amazing that in less than 3 hours we can be on the beach with a view like this looking towards Norfolk. Taken yesterday morning.

Have a super weekend all.

For more photos featuring the sky, join me and visit Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

Getting Ready For Tomorrow

Tomorrow is CDP's Theme Day - The Beauty of Decay.  

I found something interesting to photograph

here at the Old Coventry Cathedral.

Please notice that the sun is out :).  We headed back into town today so that I could get some photo's for tomorrow and show off the view from inside Coventry Cathedral looking out as it was this morning.  I am standing at the alter look back towards what would have been the main entrance (to the right of the spire).   See you tomorrow!

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

The Countryside

We went to Rugby Wednesday to see 'The Great Gatsby'.
Enjoyed the film but wished I had seen it in 2D rather than 3D.

On the way home we stopped (just outside Easenhall village) and waited and waited for the sunlight to reach beyond those trees.  It didn't happen but did get as far as those nice Jersey cows.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.  It is a Bank holiday here on Monday and most of the schools are closed for the week too. Everywhere will be busy.  Hope the weather cooperates.  Cheers for now!

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

A Little Sunshine...

...at Coombe Abbey Hotel.

Have a great weekend!

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel

Coventry Canal Basin...

...with blue sky!

This is the start of the Coventry Canal.  It is located just outside the Coventry City Centre.  We came here on Thursday to go to a trophy shop behind one of those blue doors on the left.  Just as we were leaving, so was a canal boat.   First task?  To negotiate the narrow Canal Bridge in the distance.

They made it.

Please visit Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel for photos from around the world featuring the sky.

If you like to see more reflections, follow this link to Weekend Reflections.  I am participating for the first time.

That's me done for the week.  It has been super.  Thank you for all the positive comments I received during the week. Appreciated.  Have a terrific weekend.  Take care!

Perfect Day For A Wedding

Coombe Country Park with a few clouds, and behind me....

...a wedding at Coombe Abbey Hotel, with a nesting swan nearby.  The wedding photos will be amazing.

I am afraid I got excited and neglected to get the camera straight.  But you get the idea :). All taken today.

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

That is it for me this week.  I'll be back on Tuesday.  (Playing golf on Monday.)  I must say I am loving the fluffy clouds appearing between hail showers.  Weather :).

Rain Clouds...

...moving away.  Hooray!

This photo was taken yesterday as Mr. LOL and I were driving around looking for thatched cottages.  Withybrook is a very small village with beautiful farmland surrounding it, not far from Coventry.

Have a safe weekend.  It has been a desperately sad week for many in America.

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

Sending You A Message

Mr LOL and I found a little bench not far from here in Wildflower Meadow at Coombe Country Park. No flowers here just yet but I did notice quite a display of cloud cover this afternoon.  I like it here and I like the addition of those telegraph poles too.

The message I am sending could be via those old telegraph poles:  'Have a good weekend all.  See you next week.'

Taking part in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

PS. Here's the bench, or perhaps it is more like a perch. 

Ansty Hall

The view of Ansty Hall from the road.  Ansty Hall is now a hotel but its origins date back to 1406.  If you read the link, you will see that there have been changes in ownership which means changes to the structure.  I have been there once for a meal and another time for a wedding reception.  Beautiful!

From the hotel, you can see our golf course (Ansty).  Should be playing this Sunday.  Mr. LOL is going to have to pass due to his poorly back.  It is our Ryder Cup competition and I will be playing for USA, of course :).

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

Have a good weekend all.  Oh, here is some of the view from the hotel.....

Lightning Strike

A rare glimpse of blue sky which didn't last for long.  This photo was taken on the Brown Trail at Coombe Country Park.  It was that angular tree that caught my eye.  The wooden fenced squares on the right are protecting new trees from the sheep that are often in this field. This trail has hidden treasurers...soon to be revealed.

For more photos featuring the sky, please click on the following links:

Sky Watch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel

Happy Easter to you all.  See you next week.  Cheers!

Station Tower

This 1970's building has intrigued me for ages.  It is tall by Coventry standards (15 floors), right next door to Coventry Train Station and loaded with lots of glass (not to mention it is a perfect perch for relay equipment).  It is curious to me that for the longest time, I have been able to see almost directly through most of the floors.  Can it be vacant?

I went by the main door yesterday and noticed only 2 businesses listed on the directory.  Next time Mr LOL has a chiropractor appointment near here, I will try and get up enough nerve to ring a buzzer or two and ask if I can have a look inside?  Watch this space!

It is Friday and what a busy week it has been.  Cheltenham Festival (horse racing) finishes today.  Our afternoons have been spent primarily watching our favourite horses not win :).  Still fun.

Have a good weekend!  For more 'sky' photos follow the link to Skywatch Friday.  I am going to have a go at linking to Ein Stück Himmel at the suggestion of my friend Lulu over at Princeton Daily Photo.  Cheers!