Hobbies and Crafts

Just had a look at the photos.They are wonderful!!Stunning in fact.
it has been fairly quiet in the garden today.I don't think the birds are quite as hungry.They are probably sleeping off all the food they have eaten here lol.The little robin is always waiting to greet me in the morning.

Thanks Von.....very good photo's for Vic, he usually cuts heads off etc...lol

DizzieLizzie.......thats great, you'll be able to get some nice photo's soon then:o))

Did anyone watch Animals 24-7 this morning, perhaps its best if you did'nt, a 17yr old had shot and killed a male swan plus 4 cignets and injured the female. She survived and was released in a different part of the county after an operation and care!! All he got was a £60 fine and some custodial (sp) thing which won't make any difference to him l'm sure!!! grrrrr

jude

Jude
Wow what stunning photographs especially when you enlarge them.
Thank you for posting them
take care
Von

I think one of the pheasants is getting a bit braver. Went down to feed the birds this morning and noticed one in the garden. It did decide to go away when it saw me getting closer but it didn't make the usual panic about it and it hadn't gone dashing off as soon as I touched the patio door handle.

Take a look at the blog, some photo's of OH's walk Breacon Beacons to Black Mountains!! :o)

jude

We've been lucky since we moved here. A neighbour swaps cat sitting with us for longer holidays and we have a cat flap and automatic feeders for short breaks.

The ducks have been a bit greedy today. Did a little bit of gardening and everytime I went down the garden they were there wanting munchies.

Jane that is why we didn't have another cat after we lost our Holly 3 years ago. It is so much easier if you want to go on lots of breaks if you don't have to worry about animals. maybe when we have stopped travelling???

Jude I just couldn't put Chester in Kennels again.The last time was about 8 years ago and he was so depressed.He had been going to Abby for the last 8 years.She has even offered to take him in Derbyshire if we met half wayBut he doesn't travel well.I think when the time comes and we don't have him I won't have another dog as OH will be retired then and it will be nice to just decide on the spur of the moment to go away and not have the worry about leaving a pet.
Saying that ........not sure I could be without a dog lol

I seem to be missing 2 Moorhens.Still have the single one,who is being very adventurous at the moment.I have just spotted it trying to climb up through the fir tree !!

Jane.....we have a sitter who comes to the house, but not as much as she used to cause we had to changed our day to see grandson:o((( a few neighbours can sometimes help, otherwise its the kennels:o((
He's perked up now, and is laying in the sun:o))
More snow expected here tomorrow!!
jude

Good to hear everyones doggies are doing ok.I have to get mine to the vets for his boosters next week.I am having to try and find a new place for him to go when we go on holiday.He used to stay with a girl called Abby who would take in about half a dozen dogs in her home.They had a special room with their beds and a couple of settees and a TV lol.It was home from home ,but she has moved away to Derbyshire.I won't put him in Kennels now as he is nearly 11.Hopefully I have found a lady who will have him in her home.We haven't met yet but am keeping my fingers crossed it will work out.
We have had so much snow here and the birds are eating me out of house and home still lol.Even a couple of crows have been showing up.I'm not keen on them though.
More snow forecast for tomorrow!!

Morning everyone....l've been up since 7.50am most unusual for me but Vic has gone off on a ramble and had to leave at 8.30 l had to sort his packed lunch:o)))

We had Nuthatch this morning and before Vic fed the birds the Reed bunting was there too. It seems that once he has been disturbed...he's off to another garden, unless l just don't see him, l do spend alot of time looking out of the window but not quite all day:o))) lol

Hello Tec:o)) pleased to hear Ianto is doing ok:o)) Madocs leg has healed brilliantly now, no bucket collar for some days. But he's not himself since yesterday, abit jumpy and stands by the backdoor with his tail down. If we come down the stairs and he's in the hall he goes straight into the ktchen and waits by the door until we get to the bottom. Some months ago the gate came off its hinge, which it does often, its one you can release, and it may have hit his hip, it makes quite a noise when it falls, so l can understand his reluctance to stand in the hall!! but why he was so jumpy yesterday l don't know. He had a game with the puppy next door (puppy on lead), in our house and they had a ball, that has to be ristricted l know because of his back leg probs, but he was off before that.
He's asleep now but will be keeping an eye on him, he'll be quieter anyways because Vic is out!!

We used to see loads of Oyster catchers but not so many now. Love the cormerants, fascinating birds:o)

So sorry about the b/bird. Hope you can sort the rat out!!!!


jude

Good to hear from you Tec, that you and Ianto are doing fine. So sorry about the blackbird - I would have felt the same. Sometimes our best intentions don't turn out the way we expect.

It's really cold again today with bright sun and a very heavy frost. It looks lovely but I must get out to feed dem birdies - they'll be forming an orderly queue soon.

Hi Tec Aaw, that was a shock for you (and the blackbird) poor bird. I read somewhere that rats go for chocolate. Glad Ianto is OK and still enjoying his walks. One of our visitors to the bird table is a fearless little field mouse.

Hi Everyone,

We had snow again today, but it soon melted, except for on the mountains.
The birds are busy on the feeders now that it is so cold again. Lots of sparrows, chaffinches, a trio of green finches, blue and great tits, black birds, starlings, doves, and of course the jackdaws.
The oyster catchers are back on the beach, and a few cormerants just off shore.
I am still being haunted by the rat around the feeders. He is getting really cheeky, and comes around all day on and off. Still fights the squirrel, though doesn't seem to bother the birds.
Something very unfortunate happened the other day. I decided to get rid of the rat, and bought a rat trap. A modern version of the old fashioned mouse trap, but works on the same principle. Anyway nothing happened for a couple of days, then one morning I noticed the trap had been sprung.
To my absolute horror I discovered that the trap had caught a male blackbird. It thad never occurred to me that this could happen, and I was disgusted, with myself. That trap went straight in the bin. Now I have bought a humane rat trap - if and when it catches the rat I can release it away from houses. So far the rat carefully walks around it, ignoring the bait (Wiltshire Ham) I think it laughs at me. But I was very upset about the blackbird, and it still grieves me.

Ianto is fine, and still enjoying his walks, staying close to me now that he doesn't see so well. He grumbles at me if I don't do everything exactly as he is accustomed. A bit like living with a grumpy old man.
OH says she's been living with one of those for years so is used to it, I've no idea what she means.

Jude, How is Madoc? is he still wearing the lampshade at night?
Give him a Welsh biscuit from me, and a big pat.

Tec

We have had so much snow here.The only footprints I can see are the `moorhens .They are so big lol.Still a bit of snow coming down tonight.

Been a lovely day most of today. Lots of birds singing. But I was surprised this afternoon when there was snow again but only for about 20 mins thank goodness.

Yeh my washing line is far away from the feeders:o))

Past couple of days we have had the Reed bunting back and we think his mate, maybe 2 mates!! :o)))) definately more greenfinches, was'nt sure the other day as they were further away and l thought they could have been female c/finches.

DizzieLizzie....you could put a outboard motor on the car, is that the right word?? then follow those swans...lol

jude:o)

We've had loads of rain today and a couple of areas of flooding on the roads home. My little Mini is convertible but not to aquatic. There's a plan.

When it comes to washing out in the summer, I figure my cats are more likely to spend time in the garden taking the sun (if we can remember what that is). And luckily my washing line is in a different part of the garden to where the bird feeders are.

We have a lot of snow again!!!!.All the long tailed Tits came for another good feed about 4.30 plus the Robins and Wood Pidgeons.The Moorhens haven't been around so much today.The seed feeder was almost empty which is unusual.Some huge crows seem to have found the garden but thankfully so far seem to stay down the bottom.

If this weather keeps up the birds will be hungry again tomorrow. Although it looks as though it is melting at the moment.