Hobbies and Crafts

Hope all goes well Jane. Very best wishes to the happy couple. Just enjoy it.

Going to be a bit busy here now with the wedding just a few days away . So will be back again after the event :-D :-D

We have lots of starlings all fighting with each other to get to the meal worms, they make such a racket at well but Sandra loves watching them. There's not as many workmen around at the moment so we're seeing a few more birds now. The Blackbirds make me laugh as they stand underneath the feeder when the starlings are there and eat the food that drops to the ground. I don't blame them eating that way I wouldn't want to get involved with fighting starlings either. Once the bigger birds have finished the little ones have their turn, the tits fly from the Red Robin to the feeder and back again, they're lovely to watch.

It sounds like you have so many birds in your garden Ann, it must be wonderful to watch them all.

You have clever Starlings at yours Vera, they seem the kind of birds that will go for the food no matter where you put it though. I hope the little ones have their fair share.

I'm going to put some meal worms out now as there is only one workman next door today and he's not making a lot of noise, so the birds might come for the food. I'm so pleased we put the feeder on a wooden stand, with the wind we had the other day, it would of fell over otherwise. It rocks a bit in the wind, but so far is still upright. The Squirrels are mulling around but I think they've worked out the feeder is to slippy with the Vaseline, so they've stopped trying to get onto it now, much to the birds delight.

Oh dear they are so greedy aren't they, and squabbly. Yes they do like mealy worms and have discovered the dish on the patio table, I have managed to chase them off when I see them. we have had quite a few birds back. 5 goldfinches visiting daily, several blue tits, a little wren was around this morning, blackbird is coming to the table by the window for his mealy worms. Now, strangely, this is not the blackbird that we had late summer, he had white patches on his wings. This appears to be the much bigger blackbird that we had all last winter and spring.
We also have the gang of starlings, sparrows, wood pigeons and Collard doves. we have run out of seed so need to get some more in the next couple of days.
We were lucky with the weather in Bath, it did rain a bit but we managed to dodge it by going in for coffee or wine at various points. The concert was very good although they don't have a loop system so, although I could hear the music/singing the clarity of the words was lost to me. Still it was OH's Christmas present and he enjoyed it. she does have a lovely voice. And the Forum in Bath is a lovely theatre

A lovely sunny day today for a change, but it is definitely getting a lot colder.

Still only a few birds around but the starlings seem to be coming back and I have discovered they are eating the meal worms. The ground feeder has a cage over it to keep out bigger birds and the mesh on it is quite small but the starlings are slimmer than, say, blackbirds and they seem to be able to fold their wings tight to their sides and make themselves very thin. They are certainly having no trouble getting inside the cage. I saw 4 in there at once yesterday.

They are definitely not my favourite bird :-|

Enjoy your trip and the concert Ann. Hope the weather is kind to you.

We went on a group outing to Blenheim Palace yesterday and it poured all day. The house was beautifully decorated for Christmas on the theme of Cinderella but I did feel sorry for the stall holders in the Christmas market in the courtyard. They weren’t doing much trade. I did buy some very pretty earrings for my daughter from a jewellery maker there but it was too wet to linger for long.

Not many birds around at all at the moment. I assume it is the weather keeping them hidden away.

It sounds as though you will have a gardening buddy in your new neighbour Gill. We had a lovely evening with our new neighbours recently. Everyone in our little Close is ‘of a certain age’ ;-) and I would think they are now the youngest here. They have very young grandchildren and I think they are recently retired. I asked them about the little tabby and white cat and it isn’t theirs so I still don’t know where it comes from. It’s a pretty little thing and obviously well cared for. I haven’t seen it around for a day or two so it’s not the cat keeping the birds away.

Here’s hoping for a drier day tomorrow.

How lovely Ann hope the rain stays away and you have a good time.

It sounds like the birds are having a field day at yours Jane. I put a few more meal worms out before but I'm not sure if they'll be eaten with the noise next door. At least they'll still be there for when there's a quiet day. The wall to the extension is up now and it's right in our view when we look out of the kitchen window, so I've decided to buy some tall plants to block the view and make it look prettier.

Enjoy your stay Ann. Weather doesnt look good for tomorrow though so I hope you dont get soaked through. I bet the Concert will be brilliant :-D.

We seem to have had so many Bluetits on the feeder today.I couldnt even count them !!!!

Glad you liked it Gill. Yes I made it myself.

We are in Bathe for a couple of days to go to A Katie Melua concert and see the Christmas market, very dull and damp here at the moment, we have just got to our hotel.

Sandra said to say thank you for the lovely Christmas card Ann it arrived this morning, it's our first one. Did you make it yourself, it's beautiful?

The birds are keeping away at the moment with the builders next door, but on the odd occasion when there's no one there the birds come back for some food. I've been putting meal worms out which they seem to like more than anything else, although they have had a nibble at the fat balls and cake.

The building work is coming on quite quickly so with a bit of luck they'll be finished outside soon then Sandra will see lots more birds. We get lots of starling to Ann all fighting with each other to get to the meal worms, which is very amusing to watch, but like I said it's only the odd day with there being so many workmen around. At least the bird food will last a bit longer. I've noticed the Blackbirds stay on the ground and eat the meal worms from there as the Starlings are messy eaters and drop quite a lot. The little tits come and go from our Red Robins when the bigger birds have finished which is nice to see to.

Hope you're feeling a bit better today Jane and your cold has gone in time for the wedding.

The workman has just turned up to fix my washing machine and dryer so I'd better go and let him in.

At least you know where he is when he is indoors or near the house Jane. Hope your cough/cold is improving, get rid before the wedding!!

We had 5 goldfinches on the feeder this morning, they needed umbrellas but it didn't seem to faze them that it was raining.

Vera , Thomas is staying a lot nearer to home these days. I think the horrible weather has a lot to do with it:-) He is in most nights by 10 and not wanting out until near 6am .I think he is still doing a fair bit of hunting though but mainly mice and not Rabbits.
I hope you have found out where the little Tabby and White Cat comes from . Not nice t osee it with a Pigeon in its mouth :-S. Some cats like mine although well fed are just born hunters :-S

Yes the Hen do was quite a do LOL .Wedding now just 10 days away !!!. I just can't wait now .I just need to try and keep my 'calm' head on :-)

Magpies being a right pain here at the moment :-S But lots of lovely Bluetits :-D

Today on the feeders and fat balls we had a group of starlings, sparrows, 3 goldfinches, and blue tits. On the patio table eating mealy worms we had our blackbird, a magpie and two starlings.

Pleased to see the past couple of days that our blackbird has visited the table on the patio for his mealy worms so he has not forgotten. OH shaked the bag and he comes to feed if he is around. Also yesterday I think we had a blackcap on the fat balls.

Sounds a lovely pleasant very and very apt. Have a lovely time catching up with local gossip!

Sounds as though you had quite a wild time at your daughter's hen do Jane. Not long now till the wedding. I hope you are going to tell us all about it.

How's Thomas doing these days. You haven't mentioned him recently - does that mean he is being a good boy now?

Over the last 2 or 3 months I have noticed a small, very pretty tabby and white cat coming through our garden. Today I saw it in the garden with a big wood pigeon in its mouth. This little cat could barely manage to carry the bird which was nearly as big as itself. I'm no lover of pigeons but I couldn't just ignore it so I banged hard on the window. The cat nearly jumped out of its skin and dropped the pigeon which flew away so hopefully it was OK, though there are a lot of feathers in our garden.

I have no idea who this cat belongs to but I am wondering if it is people next door to us who moved here in early September. I might find out tonight as we have been invited in there for a St Andrews day get together. I don't know if there will be lots of people there or if it is just the neighbours from our little cul-de-sac of 6 houses. I didn't want to go empty handed and I wanted to take something a bit Scottish but I know the hosts are providing some Scottish type foods and drink, so I got a pot of heather, put it inside a nice china pot and tied it up with a ribbon. I hope that will be acceptable. It should be a good evening :-D

Thanks a Jane they are great, looked like everyone was having a good time.

Just sent you some pics Ann :-D :-D

Ooh Jane getting exciting as the big day approaches. Yes I read all about your exploits on Mel’s thread. Sounded a wonderful day and a hoot. I guess the tube is still recovering or rather the passengers on the tube :-D

So windy here today the little Bluetits were struggling to hang on the the window feeder. We have Magpies and big Crows (I think Crows) .Never had them in the garden before :-S. I would rather they all went elsewhere and not my garden.

Have been to my Daughters Hen Do in London at the weekend. I think I am still recovering LOL It was a wonderful time and her girlfriends certainly made it a day to remember!!. :-0 :-D I was on the go for 18hours . Up at 6 train to London and then partying from 11 until nearly midnight .Soho is such a busy and lively and noisy place .But great fun. I'm just too old for all this now ,dicky hip didn't help either. The girls carried on clubbing until 4am!It was lovely to be included as was her Husband to be's Mum and my Sister. We were the 3 oldies :-D Wedding just over 2 weeks away now.