365:080 Show

365:080 Show, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

In amongst my itinerary for my London trip was to visit the Royal College of Art graduate summer show ... Sometimes the work can be a bit too conceptual for me, but there was some really engaging stuff too ...

But my favourite bit has to be the giant sign outside. Doggie in the foreground gives you a sense of scale. The entrance is through the bottom of 'H'.

365:079 Tea Flower

365:079 Tea Flower, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

I'm in London for a few days and tonight went out with my very good friend Ellie. She took me to this dim sum place in Hampsted called "Ping Pong"...

The food was absolutely scrummy and we stuffed ourselves. To end the meal Ellie suggested I try one of their 'flower green teas'. She tried to describe it but I wasn't too sure... still, I'm a green tea lover, so I ordered one.

This Huge glass arrived with what looked like a bundle of dry leaves at the bottom. The waitress then proceeded to pour hot water into the glass and then walk away. So there I sat watching with intent as my tea FLOWERED! Yup! It unbundled, and then this lily (I think) came out ... AMAZING!

365:078 Hidden

365:078 Hidden, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

This little'un and his family nested in our neighbour's rooftop earlier this spring. Since then the family have exploded in numbers and in tweeting volume!

Sunshine and I have been desperately trying to take pictures of them but they're quite flighty and disappear whenever we come near - sometimes I wish we had a telephoto lens :(

The neighbours have a short bushy tree in their front garden that the family often play in - usually they're hidden in the branches, but today I managed to sneak a peek :)

Someone tell me what species of bird this is?

365:077 Behind

365:077 Behind, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

What wonderful patterns exist behind machine embroidery ...

365:076 Bug Love

365:076 Bug Love, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

Copulating critters ...

365:075 Deer

365:075 Deer, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

"Whatchu lookin' at??!!??"

Deer-in-headlights, at Ashton Court.

365:074 Rust

365:074 Rust, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

The large fern-in-a-metal-tub in our backyard seems to be slowly recovering from whatever rust-disease it had been suffering from. Lots of green leaves now, but some of the old stuff is still there (for me to take photos of!).

365:071 Told Off

365:071 Told Off, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

"What have I told you about eating our plants??!!??"

Snail gets a right telling off by Sunshine ... He lookes quite ashamed really...

365:070 Spitalfields

365:070 Spitalfields, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

Last day of my London weekend - decided to visit my old haunt, Spitalfields.

Red silhouette of Christ Church Spitalfields by Eleonora Aguiari at the entrance to Bishop's Square, by Old Spitalfields Market.

365:069 Shadow

365:069 Shadow, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

Took a walk down to Green Park in the afternoon sunshine. Was intending just to get the flowers, but my shadow added an extra bit of interest (no, I'm not wearing a dress, its my raincoat/mac).

365:068 View

365:068 View, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

Visiting dad in London ... this was the view from his hotel window ...

365:067 Stitches

365:067 Stitches, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

I bought this gorgeous piece of fabric ages ago ... its called "Caught Up in Stitches". I've been "caught up in stitches" quite a bit of late with the boat project, and the current project, but I just can't bring myself to use this lovely piece ... I need to find a project that's deserving of it - maybe over summer ...

365:065 Moss

365:065 Moss, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

"Forest of Moss"

What a strange sense of scale - the stalks on this are probably half a centimeter high? Land of the Lilliputlians ...


And our lupins. Just blooming ... lovely how the outer petal peels back ...

365:059 Fire

365:059 Fire, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

Spotted at the Tobacco Factory (or 'Bac Fac' as its known to us locals); while out having drinks with Duncan.

We later ended up at his for a barbecue

... What a smashing evening :)

365:058 Post

365:058 Post, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

Postman R.McArthur parked his bike by the pub and didn't return in all the time I stood there contemplating whether I should draw it or not ...

It didn't quite fit into the theme of what I was working on, so I took a photo instead ...

365:057 Soft

365:057 Soft, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

Soft dandelion in soft focus ...

365:055 Vespa

365:055 Vespa, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

Spent most of today walking round the Southbank Bristol Arts Trail, which was all round our neigbourhood. Saw all sorts of arts, crafts and installation, like the cul-de-sac with lots of plants - plants in shoes, plants on trolleys, plants in bins, and even plants in a Vespa!

I love living where I do :) ... And what a fab opportunity to visit people's houses and get to talk to and make friends with all our creative and talented neighbours...

365:054 Clematis

365:054 Clematis, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

We've been in our house since early autumn last year, so there are plants that we haven't quite seen flowering yet ...

Today I noticed the clematis in the front garden. Made me soo happy :)

ps, sorry to those of you who are bored of my flower photos ... its SPRING! And anyways, my mum likes them ;)

And so does Mr Ant ...

365:053 Stigma Stamen

365:053 Stigma Stamen, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

What you can't tell from this photo is the size of this poppy - the flower head was massive, at least 9 inches across!

I spotted these (and some giant iris and giant lilies) in the compound of our local St John's Ambulance building (The Harry Crook Center) this morning on the way to college. On the way home I just HAD to go and see if they were real - I'd never seen them this big before ... and indeed they were. Real, huge, and smelling pungent ... and I felt like a Lilliputlian next to them!

365:052 Boys

365:052 Boys, originally uploaded by planetmithi.

The Southville Center is quite the pretty little building - but I've not managed to find out much about its history apart from that it's grade II listed, and it used to be a school ...

Must have been a boy's school as I saw two of these signs, but no 'girls' (maybe the other side of the building ...)