Hobbies and Crafts

The buddleias on one side had finished flowering so yesterday we cut them right back to rejuvenate them for next year. One of them is white and hopefully it should come back a better shape so that we can see the flowers better on our side. Aside from the butterflies the neighbours had all the benefit of that one this year. The other side still has flowers as it started later. We had cut that back early spring, so we're hoping if we deal with them at different times of the year we can extend the time we have flowers on one side or the other every year. Now we've got space to get in and finally dead head the lilac properly too. But we'll leave that to after our holiday now.

Back again:o)

We have'nt seen ours either, l heard a green woodie yesterday though:o)

l spose the birds flit between the gardens and some area's depending on what is on offer, various plants/fruits etc and the fact the someone has a certain plant means they may have different insects aswell!

Give Yanto a hug from me, bless him:o))

Madoc was so pleased to see us yesterday, but when we got home the dog sitter was still there, she thought we were coming back today. She stood in the kitchen talking to us and Madoc sat on her feet, bless him, so he loves us all:o))
Next door seem to be leaving there dog alot, must tell them he can come in here with Madoc.

jude:o)

I hope we get to see our woodpeckers again soon. Not seen them for ages.

The only bird on my lawn this morning was the woodpecker.It looks fully grown now.I still didn't get a photo.It was having a real feast with its beak buried right to the hilt.Next door have lots of coots pottering around,and i think they are after the chicken feed lol

Morning all:o)

Just a quickie, will try and get some pics on the blog sometime of Lancaster:o)

jude:o)

Morning all

We get Hercules over here too Tec. In and out of RAF Lyneham. Some of them are bringing casualties and fatalities from Afghanistan unfortunately, the ones you see on TV News going through Wootton Bassett nearby. Makes you think - I have a friend who's son is there at the moment. He's a Fusilier and was sent out very soon after he completed his training.

Earlier in the year when the raised bed at the front of the house was more bare I saw a wren from time to time, but I haven't seen any lately.

We're off to Cornwall next week so we'll have to see what we get to spot there.

Hello Everyone,
Jude.....You certainly do get around . It's interesting that when you go to a different part of the country, you often see birds that you never see in your own locality. I saw kestrals in Shropshire recently, and a pair of redpolls in my daughters garden there, where they are apparently quite common.
I would have loved to have seen the Lancaster on the runway. We often get Hercules flying low and slow over the village, wonderful sight. No idea where they're from, or where they go to.
Ianto is fine thanks. He seems to have recovered from his ear trouble, but is not hearing very well, and has gone very short sighted. He sticks very close to me now - I'm not allowed out of sight.

I had to laugh about the comments of living somewhere for years and still being regarded as a newcomer. I have lived in this village for 15 years, and am still an incomer, or "Blow Ins" as they say here. It can be very windy here, so can only assume they think we were blown in on the wind. And yes - everyone is related to everyone else, so you must be careful.
However, most are friendly, and it's a wonderful place for wildlife.

Regards to all
Tec.

Photo's on the blog now:o))

jude :o)

PS....Jane, we get a wren occassionally, or should l say we see one occassionally, they are so quick are'nt they, so dinky though:o)

Lol Ann. OH says that them cousins once removed b'ain't so far removed as you'd expect when you look on his tree. And I remember FIL saying that though he had family ties that way he and his mum were never accepted in the same way as the "natives" were.

And Jude I've looked on the map and by jingo so we did. As both of you say the forest is a beautiful area. It's only an hour and a half away so we'll be able to have an occasional drive that way again sometime.

We seem to have a number of wrens in the garden at the moment.But as they are so tiny I nearly miss spotting them lol

Good afternoon everyone:o))
We're back from our stay in Derbyshire with my lovely friend who has alzheimers.....good time was had by al:o))

Dizzielizzie....you almost past my doorstep then:o)) my nephew lives nr Mitcheldean and l worked at the college in forest:o)

Not had a chance to see what birds are about yet, vic has fed them and now gone to get Madoc, he could'nt wait any longer. There was a dog where we stayed but not the same as having mad Madoc around!!

Tec...Tis good to read posts on here, much better than the newspapers. How is Yanto? Pleased to see you have seen the red kite and buzzard. Whilst we were travelling around Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshre (l've been everywhere man, l've been everywhere...sing along:o))) lol) we saw a number of Kestrals, Vic was very pleased to see them as we don't seem to have them here, there were loads in Sussex.

l have a number of emails with attachments so will check them out soon, thanks everyone:o)

One of the places we visited was East something....doww forgotten now...lol its where the Lancaster is on display and taxes along the runway twice a day....oh my gawd it had me and vic crying, beautiful sight:o)))

jude:o)

PS edit....20.25pm...East Kirkby:o))

Dizzy,
They do get more snow in the Forest in the winter than we do here in the Severn valley but rarely these days are they cut off. A lot of those little places are very insular, when we lived in Lydney on the edge of the Forest, and I worked with Foresters (70s), you daren't speak about anyone as somebody would inevitable say 'oh that is my - aunty/uncle/cousin. cousin once removed' etc. They say that even if you live there for 25 years you will still be regarded as a 'foreigner'.
Beautiful area though.
Ann
Glos

I saw a huge heron flying along the river this morning after having said I hadn't seen one for a while. Hope it becomes more regular again. We've got cows again in the field the other side of the river too and I've also been hearing, but not seeing, pheasant more regularly again the past few days.

We visited Coleford, Berry Hill (where my FIL was evacuated to with his mother in the war - he remembers visiting a house called Top Lonk and we found The Lonk), Newland, Speech House (where one of his ancestors was killed by a stone falling on his head), Ruardean and Hope Mansell, all places where OH's families had connections.

And of course we had to have a visit to Symond's Yat. When we were up there we were up at the height of a couple of buzzards coasting over the valley.

We also went to a place called The Pludds where there seemed to be more sheep than people. Some places seemed very remote and looked like they could be quite cut off in the winter. Also of course being in the forest there were lots of chimneys smoking with the smell of wood burners.

We had a lovely day although the weather was dull and I slept well after taxiing him around all day. He has a few more memories and pictures to bring his tree to life now. He's pleased to discover it's only about an hour and a half away too.

Where in the Forest do the ancestors come from Dizzy?

Ann
Glos

We had a good day in the garden too yesterday, but I must get better at having a camera to hand. I get so engrossed in watching something going on that I forget a picture might be nice.

We're off to the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley today to see where some of OH's predecessors lived. Looks to have started out a bright day and maybe we'll be lucky to see some different wildlife around too.

Wishing everyone a good Bank Holiday weekend. Remember, those of you who have a salary, that you're being paid to relax for once. Yay!

Hi all, just had a pleasant hour in the garden, and because I am looking after my daughters Spaniel, I didn't think I would see much activity with her around. But the sparrows kept coming for food,also the goldfinches, and then I heard the sound of a baby greenfinch. It had landed on the path and was happily munching away on spilt sunflower hearts. I tiptoed with my camera and snapped him ! Only managed one photo before he flew away. I will send it to Jude....to see if it is of interest

Maggie

Actually Tec, you remind me we haven't seen our heron round here for ages, but their are sandpits not far away so maybe he's summering there. Although it's primarily an industrial site it's quite a nature haven.

Still seeing the geese every evening. Just as it's getting dusk a great squadron fly over in formation. Last night as I heard the first sounds of them I heard our neighbour call his wife telling her they were on their way over.

Once they've gone over it reminds us to listen out for the owls.

My son's not going to be quite so enamoured of the noisy greenfinch. He started being a regular in the bush outside his bedroom just after he went away for two weeks. Son came back last night and I can hear my little chap tweeting away for all he's worth right by his window now.

Earlier I had a little robin looking in at me as I was enjoying my first morning cuppa. Ah well, better put the kettle back on and see if I can rescue the rudely awakened son/greenfinch situation.

Hi Everyone,
In the last two days, I have seen both a buzzard, and a red kite, so they must be returning to old haunts.
The heron seems to have disappeared, so maybe he has emptied the neighbours pond of goldfish. He normally hangs around where the river flows off the mountain onto the pebble beach, and forms a sort of pond before filtering into the sea. The fish get trapped there, so he has fish delivered as it were. We had starlings nesting on the house again this year, they raised two broods, but have all disappeared now.
Still rather quiet in the garden - a few sparrows, chaffinches, a robin, one solitary blue tit, and the doves.
The swallows are still around, and it saddens me when they go, because I know that winter is looming - what a thought.
I continue to read everyones posts with interest - it is so good to see people noticing and commenting on normal, natural things, as against the hum bug we are bombarded with in the press and on tele.

Regards
Tec.

Weird isn't it? I counted 10 sparrows this morning on the feeders and we have got the pigeons and doves back as well, oh yes and there was a dunnock in the garden this morning too.