Hobbies and Crafts

Me again. I just went to hang some washing out and disturbed a roe deer hind actually in my garden. It's the second time I've seen one here lately, but we'd never seen one in our garden in the two years we've been here. We usually only see them in the farmer's field the other side of the river although I know a couple of the neighbours have had them in the garden before. They've got gentle grassy banks from the river to their gardens but we have a built up bank at the bottom of our garden and there are fences (not high) and quite dense shrubbery on either side of our garden too. Thankfully not enough to deter our shy friends.

The first time I saw one was as I opened the curtains early in the morning and that made her look up and know I was around so even though I went downstairs very quietly with the camera she was already too alert and as I say this time I disturbed her because I didn't know she was there. So failure on that front so far. You never know - one day...

Been away for a bit to Suffolk for a break and to do a bit of famlee histree. Got quite a lot that way and need to find time to go back and do more as time ran out. Found a lovely, friendly brew pub to stay in. So obviously it's own beer and lots of lovely local food too.

Sounds like Ianto needs one of those stairlifts that Thora Hird used to advertise. Poor old fing, at least when my cats get crotchety I'll be able to carry them easily.

I don't get the same kind of help with the unpacking Jude, but my lot usually get involved if there's a cream pot or something nice and I end up with 3 moggies circling round my legs fit to send me flying. I'm very careful, I did hit the deck in our stone floored kitchen once and I am not ready to do that again any time soon.

I've been noticing quite an increase in the greenfinches round our feeder the past week or two, and now we have a good number of goldfinches coming to add to the regular chaffinches. So I'm feeling quite positive about our finch population at present. When we moved here 2 years ago now we regularly saw one or two greenfinches but then last year we only rarely saw perhaps one. And the goldfinches have obviously got used to us putting out niger for them now, so it's good to notice an improvement .

Just came home from choir, it's quite a balmy evening and I could hear tawny owls. Such a lovely sound.

We're back to not seeing the swans very often again, although their are plenty there if we go into town, but we have sometimes 9 or even 18 ducks coming for brekky depending on whether it's just the two slightly older families or if the newer babies turn up too. Also I notice more moorhens on the garden lately and one was even on the patio yesterday. They still scuttle off at sight of me but one or two of them aren't quite so quick to rush off lately. Maybe we'll be able to get closer to them like you can at Slimbridge one day. Big old Harry the Heron was wading along the river yesterday too.

I actually have quite a few bunches of grapes on my vine this year - having spoken to it harshly last year giving it one more chance - I'm not a wine maker so I'm going to have a go at making my own raisins instead. Been readin' Mr Flowerdew. But it depends if I get there before the birdies. We'll see.

Quite busy this week as my daughter comes back from her 6 month travels on Sunday. Boyfriend's Mum arrives Saturday so we can go together to the airport to fetch them and we'll also meet and pick up daughter's best friend to bring back with us - she's just about to get back from Australia. So I'm preparing the "hotel rooms" and the menu they've requested for their return. Strangely not roast beef and yorkies, but then they've been in Argentina eating lots of beef for the past few weeks. Boyfriend facebooked after the first week there "seven days in Buenos Aires - seven steaks". I think they'd been missing red meat and it's cheap but wonderful there.

Forgot to say we have been watching the hawks here again, three of them today, we think probably one adult and two young out over the cliff.

Tec, how lovely to see you on here again, I often wonder how Ianto is. sad that our pets have to get old but he is still enjoying a loving home into his old age with you. Had a chuckle at you on the sofa awake and Ianto asleep in his bed. Who is in charge I ask myself.
Sorry to hear about the Collard doves, strange that they have now all disappeared,
Jude Madoc is so clever, he will be opening the freezer/fridge and putting it away for you soon, you will just have to sit and watch Lol!!! Hope you had a good day with Grandson. (Ours has just got his first mortgage! Now I really do feel old.).

Jane...l am so sorry, such a shock for you all. We are still finding it hard to take in that my b i l has gone!! Take care x

Hello Tec...how nice to see your name on here:o)
Oh bless Ianto, shame you don't have some sort of pully to get him upstairs by. Fortunately in a way Madoc sleeps downstairs, but who's to know how he'll be when he's old etc!!
He's fine thank you.....just loves playing with Rosco next door, but Rosco is too energetic...he bit or clawed Madoc's neck theother day and left a hole, which fortunately has healed:o). They often talk to one another over the fence, and nudge each others noses, so cute!!
Did you read the bit below about Madoc helping me with the shopping, taking it out of the bag and giving it to me for the freezer :o))) awww he's so clever.
He loves carrots and usually has a whole medium sized one a day.....thing is l can't get away with forgetting now cause he puts his head on my knee and wags his tale perfusely and then stands looking at the fridge....cheeky or what??

Loads of licks from Madoc to Ianto and strokes from me:o)

Talking about dogs, we were in Birmingham today in a park with grandson and a man appeared with a lovely staffie cross, lovely lead and harness etc, with one of those plastic thingies with a ball in the end,and you throw the ball from it .He walked her and played with her all round the park and came over to us, she was so good with the littleman:o) then he said 'do you want her'?......oh l so wish l could have said yes! Apparently she had ripped his leather sofa to bits and various other things, he gets home from work in the morning and finds the damage, so preseumably works night (dog probably bored). She's already been rescued by this chap (he says) and is (he says) 3 mths od, well l hate to think how big she'll be at a yr old . I TOLD him (NICELY) to take her to the rspca, he mmm'd...so l doubt he will.....Hope she's going to be ok??


Birds.....l do hope the Doves are'nt being poisened, can they get the disease thats going round with finches?
We still get the odd buzzard, one was crying way up yesterday.

Take care
jude

Hi Everyone,

Not too much bird activity in the garden lately. I did have a rare visitor this week though. As far as I can identify from my bird books it was a Reed Warbler, several of the Warblers look alike, but this was the nearest.

Something curious is going on with the Collared Doves. We have always had them here, and they visit the feeders every day, usually around nine in number. However, they stopped coming about a week ago, except for one who hung around the feeders constantly. I noticed she didn't look right for a few days, then yesterday I found her dead in the shrubbery. It is very odd indeed that they've stopped coming after so many years, and with that one dying I am wondering if that little colony has been poisoned somehow.

The buzzards are still on the mountain, and I spotted a lone Red Kite yesterday - haven't seen one for a while.

Jude, How is Madoc? - hope he's doing well. Ianto is still plodding along, albeit slowly. He is getting more and more difficult to get upstairs to his bed on the landing. This is due to arthritis, and failing eyesight. He refuses to stay downstairs alone at night - we have tried all sorts of things. Night before last I ended up on the sofa, not sleeping, while he slept soundly all night in the sitting room.
Last night he decided with persuation to attempt the stairs - so I too got a good nights sleep.

Tec

Jane so sorry to hear about your friend, it sounds as if it was a bad shock to everyone.

Jude ,no haven't looked for the Pansy's yet.Sadly we had news that a Dr at my OH's practice died on Thursday night.It has come as a terrible shock to everyone as we thought she was doing ok.She was the most lovely lady,and it has hit us really hard.
Still not many birds about in the garden,but I saw from my bed this morning through the window 6 magpies fighting over a road kill bunny.

That drop of rain came just right for our wallflowers to settle them in. Still not a bird in sight. This time last year I was worried that the birds were so numerous we wouldnt get to taste the grapes! This year, not a bird in sight.

Jean.....l think l have about 30!

Is'nt Madoc clever....he helped me unpack the bags for the freezer, l asked him to get a packet of meat and he did, then another and then salmon:o)) thought he might try and run off with the salmon. It saved me bending down:o)))

Its raining here:o((
jude

Jude, we have 72 of those miniature wallflowers to plant out! Hope they will all go in the front border!

My sister still has an itchy patch from her bite...pleased yours has gone:o))

Jane...did you try Jersey plantsdirect as Jean suggested, thats where l got mine, or try Suttons, lgot some lovely wallflower mins's theother day and everyone has taken:o)))

jude

oooh! Frilly Pansies!!!!.They look lovely .Will have to get OH to order some.
Just looked at a web site and they are sold out!!

Bites gone now Jude. sat watching and listening to the parraqueets as they flew home tonight while we were having a meal in a local bar.

Go to.....Pansy Can Can on google...lol.... they are beauuutiful:o)))

Not seen a squirrel for a while nor the buzzards:o(

jude

What is a pansy can can Jude ? LOL
I have heard lots of bird cry today and I think it was Buzzards.It sounded like screaming lol.It was quite scary sounding.
We have a Squirrel who is seems to be digging in the border!!I must get the camera out again !!

Ordered Pansy Can Can to share with sister:o)


l wonder why you don't get birds?

jude x

Jude, try Jersey plantsdirect, they usually have a good selection, free delivery.
We still dont see any birds in our garden, and as we have always had cats, I dont think it is the presence of the stays.

Blinky heck...nearly a week since anyone reported on here...:o((

We have just bought a bird table from Lidl's at £9.00, not very tall but it willbe on slightly higher ground. Its made of pine from China (where else!!) and supposed to be weathered, but l might give it another coating. Its to be assembled yet, so that could take an age...lol...but thought well if it last a yr its not mega amount to buy another one. Our old one is so tatty now.
Also bought 2 pots of Asters for £3 and pots of chryanths(sp) for £3.
Wanted the winter pansies on Monday but they were sold in a few hrs:o((((

Hope you're all well:o)

jude x

Hope the wren is ok, could well be a fledgling being harrassed:o((

Keep an eye on those bites Ann...sister got bitten by something on Monday and its really playing her up, had to take her into boots yesterday!!!!! she's on anti-hystamene (sp) and may need anti-biotics:o((

jude