Happy Sunday everyone!

The above photo is actually the ancient bridge, which gives Ivybridge it's name. 

We all know that Autumn is peeping over our shoulder, but on my walk around the village earlier today, the warm sunshine and blue skies were hanging in there. I thought I would take a few photos to share with you. This is Ivybridge, where I have lived for the past 32 years of my life and I love it here. 

Ivybridge nestles at the foot of Dartmoor, one of England's glorious National Parks, and yet we have the sea and wonderful sandy beaches only fifteen minutes from here.  I guess Ivybridge is really a small town now, but to me, it will always be "the village!"  "Town" is that other place, just ten miles down the road, that is the seafaring City of Plymouth!

The above photo is of the  River Erme, which actually runs right through the middle of the village. 

As you can see, we have a lovely Memorial in the village to the brave men of the American Armed Forces. 

It's a busy time in the garden at this time of the year, as I pick the crops of tomatoes, raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries, blackberries and apples. 

I am enjoying being back on my Blog again, and I'm sure you will see me here again soon. Hopefully you are all finding some time to relax today. Remember... We must always try to pause to "smell the roses" in our busy lives. 

Bye for now. 

Remembering ....

Who could ever forget watching this horrendous tragedy unfold on our television screens?  It really was like watching something out of a horror movie - all the poor souls leaping from windows of their offices, and the brave men and women of the emergency services that entered those buildings, without even thinking of the danger to their own lives. They were just thinking of rescuing as many people as they could. 

On the eve of September 11th, 2001, people would be lying beside their loved ones for the last time. Millions of Americans went to bed, without knowing the horror that they would be waking up to. 

I think what I am trying to say, is that we never know what each day may hold, so we really must try to live this wonderful life that we have been given, to the fullest and truly rejoice in each and every day. 

We must tell our loved ones that we love them and how much they mean to us. 

My thoughts and prayers today go out to America, and we must continue to pray, in these still troubled times around the world, that good WILL prevail against evil....

Yes, it's me.... Thisisme!

Many of you might be surprised to see me here today.  I see the last blog post I wrote was on the 14th June, 2014.  Gosh, it seems much longer ago than that!  I said then that I was saying goodbye to blogging, having written regularly over a four year period.

Fortunately, I have been able to keep in touch with a lot of my blogging friends via Facebook, and it has been lovely to keep in touch with you all.  I don't know, I was just gazing out of the window, watching the mists rising from the fields, and I suddenly thought that it might be rather nice to just write a few words once again.

I realise that most of my Followers will have disappeared into the ether by now, but here goes anyway!

The big thing for me, is that I visited America last year, going to the wonderful State of Wisconsin, where I met up with a dear friend that I had met on-line. So, at 67, I visited the USA for the first time.  My friend then came to England in April, and I was able to show her the lovely area in which I live.  I absolutely loved America, and the people were so welcoming and super-friendly to me.

The good news is, that I am returning in three weeks time! We were due to do a road trip to New England, but, unfortunately, my friend broke her wrist, so long drives are out of the question at the moment. So! We are going to visit the lakes in Michigan instead, as well as returning to the beautiful Door County, which I completely fell in love with. 

Eli and Ruby are growing away now and return to school this week. Eli is in the Juniors now and Ruby will be going into year 1 now, after her foundation year.  

The big news is that Eleanor, who will be 18 in December, will be starting at Madrid University next week.  Obviously, we are all very proud of her. She will be doing her Degree in Business Studies, and then her Masters in International Relations.  I know that she will absolutely love the experience, as she is such an outgoing young lady, who brings joy to all those around her. 

Well, I am just dipping my toes into the water here, to see if anyone is still out there, so, if you are, "hallo" and I might write the occasional post from here on in. 

Best wishes, as always, from Thisisme. 

Goodbye? Well, never say never, so perhaps Au Revoir ...

My dear little Bloggies - how are you all?  Yes, I know, I have been very remiss in not keeping in touch, so I felt that I really had better write this little note today.

I have been blogging for four years (it might even be a little longer) and, during that time, I have covered all the usual world anniversaries, as well as those anniversaries of my own dear family.  I have covered world tragedies, including the devastation caused by the terrible earthquake in Japan, the equal devastation in New Zealand, the bush fires in Australia, and who could forget that awful shooting of those innocent little children at their school in America.

There have been good times as well, of course, and from my own country's point of view, highlights would have to be the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic Games which were held in London.

I have told you about my family, my garden, and my travels, and I really do feel that there is not a lot more that I can amuse you with, so, albeit reluctantly, I have decided to end my little scribblings in the Southhamsdarling blog.

I really can't leave until I have said a massive "thank you" to all my wonderful Followers, especially those who used to pop over at every post to leave a comment for me.  You always showed me so much support, encouragement, laughter, affection and, yes, even love, and I will always be grateful for that.  The good thing is that so many of you have become friends with me on my personal facebook page, and we are in touch on virtually a daily basis, which is a lovely way for us to keep our friendship going.

I hope you will notice that I have changed my header for my leaving post, and this is just how my garden looks at the moment.  I thought I would leave you with a few photos of things that have been happening here in heavenly Devon and, yes, we are getting some wonderful sunshine at the moment!

Most of you will know how much I love quotations, so this is how I will end today ...  my wish for all of you is that you keep healthy and keep smiling.  It is, after all, a beautiful world, and we are truly blessed.

With much love, from thisisme x

Ooops!

Me again! See, you don't see me for ages, and now I appear twice!

I forgot the photo of Eleanor, so here she is ....

I Am Here....

Little bloggies! How are you all? I know, I have been missing for so long. I'm

afraid that my get up and go just got up and went!

Not in real life, I'm delighted to say, but purely in blogging terms. The problem is, these days, that all my life appears on Facebook, and I just feel that I can't repeat it all again over here!

My daughter did point out that there are probably a lot of my Followers who are not actually friends with me on Facebook. I think we were both thinking of dear Shady here!

Anyway, in utter desperation, I've just been out to take some photos of the garden as it is at the moment.

I know that several of you do seem to enjoy photos of the garden. You will notice all the wood we have around, from trees that we keep cutting down - I think we have enough wood for the woodburner to last us for quite a while!

I always love to see the apple blossom appear in the Orchard, so I have included a couple of those photos also. 

You might also see that I have sneaked in one of little Ruby, which I thought was rather lovely. I know , I know , I'm a proud grandma!

There is also a recent one of Eleanor. You can't see her very well, but I love it, because it is quite atmospheric and could almost have been taken in the 50's or 60's. 

I suppose I should see if I can find one of my little man, although you might have seen this one before. 

I hope you are all keeping well, and I hope you haven't deleted me from your Blog Roll just yet! Sending hugs your way. 

WordlessWednesday - Birthday Photo and Devon Sunshine Today