Have You Seen A Horse With A Moustache?

As today was another gloriously sunny day we took the children for another walk, around Fernworthy Reservoir.  We crossed some little rivers:

Saw some mossy trees:

Found an ancient stone circle:

An old hut:

A hairy horse with a fabulous set of legs:

And his friend.  Who had a moustache!:

Just to prove I do exist, here I am with james: 

Making Me Happy Today

Spring is on its way.  The sun has been shining, the blossoms are on the tree in the school playground and there is a smell of freshly cut grass in the air. Bliss.

I've been excited that Brandi Carlile is back in the studio recording the next album, but I won't have to wait too long to hear some new music from the band as today I pre-ordered the live recording of their concerts at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.  Brandi has the kind of voice that somehow sounds even better when you hear it live, I cannot wait to listen to the whole album and hear the familiar songs with new orchestral arrangements... roll on April 26th!

Megalithic Dartmoor

It cannot be denied; we're a family who love Dartmoor, so today we all took a hike:

Noah found a 'Funny rock to shelter under': 

After a steep climb we arrived at the top of Hookney Tor:

This is the view from Hookney Tor across the valley towards Hameldown (where we continued our hike).  In the centre you can see the circle of Grimspound:

Grimspound is a Bronze Age settlement (around 1300BC) which consists of twenty-four hut circles surrounded by a stone wall.  Here are the children in one of the remains of a roundhouse:

Here is James striking a manly pose at the south entrance of the settlement, with Hookney Tor in the background:

After a steep ascent to the top of Hameldown Tor, we found a trigonometry point and a cairn:

Close by were the remains of the ancient Hamel Down Cross.  In 1854 the Duke of Somerset had it inscribed with HC (Hamel Down Cross) and his initials DS. He used it as a boundary marker:

Did I mention I love where we live?  I truly do!

Fifteen Years

Happy anniversary Mr Miles, I've enjoyed looking at your cheeky face for the last fifteen years!

Shrove Tuesday

Dear Jay,
It's pancake day! We made our pancakes tonight and ate them with lemon juice and sugar. The children think I rock, I managed to toss every single one and none of them hit the ceiling or fell on the floor (as mum's often would). Rosie wants to know if you celebrate it even though you're in America. I hope you're not letting the side down!

Love Naomi xxx

Gigs Are Like Buses...

...you wait for ages then three come at once!  Last night James and I had another date, this time to see British band Kill It Kid in Exeter.  I've loved this band for a couple of years now and I was lucky to see them live supporting Brandi Carlile back in 2009.  (Don't you love it when a band you already like are supporting?)  Their sound could best be described as delta blues/Americana mixed with a whole lot of rock.  Chris Turpin's vocals are fabulous, so much volume and grit from such a young person, combined with the smooth voice of Steph Ward it is just a delightful experience to watch these guys.  We got to hear a few new songs last night, I can't wait for the new album.  Here's the first song I heard from Kill It Kid, give it a listen:

On a side note, this morning I just bought tickets to see Gregory Alan Isakov who I've loved for a couple of years but hasn't toured the UK in that time.  I'm so excited that he's going to be playing at a teeny tiny cafe in Torquay, the next town along from me... I don't have to go to London to see him... and it's in an imtimate venue!  Oh, the wait until June shall be toruture.