Hobbies and Crafts

Rained here overnight and there is still a lot of mizzly rain in the air. Not many birds around this morning. I haven't seen the robins, bluetits, sparrows or goldfinches for a few days now. I hope they haven't deserted us.

I'd be happy to see the pigeons and starlings disappear but they seem to like this bird hotel and are sticking around.

The collared dove is still sitting on her very wobbly nest. I was getting a bit worried as I hadn't seen her partner around for a while but yesterday there was a collared dove sitting in a tree nearby so I hope that was him. The only way we can see the nest is by standing more or less underneath it and looking up - never a good idea when you have a bird directly above you.

The blackbirds are still attacking my poor witch hazel cutting. There are loads of bigger pots around where they won't do much damage but they seem to have taken to this little pot. Yesterday I tried to deter them by covering the top with gravel; by today the gravel and half the compost had been thrown out. So now this tiny pot has several pebbles piled on it. Let them try to get those in their beaks!

Vera, have you checked if there are any insects in that pot that are attracting the blackbirds.

I did have a look and could see nothing in the compost, not even ants. The ground is so soft anyway that they can get at insects fairly easily. I have seen them pecking in the lawn. I wondered if the plant itself was attracting them in some way but they have never shown particular interest in the two big witch hazels, even when they were small. It's a puzzle.

Huh! the two Starlings were back earlier.But luckily have left the rest of the flock somewhere else..Kandj's most likely lol.
I am in bed with a horrible chesty cough and yucky nose.I 'm in the spare room which is good as I would have kept OH awake with all the coughing .It is nice in here because as I sit here in the bed I can look out the window and see the horses in the field opposite.They all seem to still have their coats on and yet it is so mild.
I popped down to get myself a cup of tea about 7 and there were 2 Squirrels.One on the Peanut Ball and the other one trying to get up there but being chased off.Underneath the ball was a very hopeful huge Woodpidgeon waiting for any bits that dropped :-D

Sorry to hear that you are poorly Jane, you must feel ill to be in bed. I can't remember the last time I stayed in bed, even with a cold. Best place to be today though, not very nice weather out. Hope you feel better soon.

Photos of our day out to Batsford Arboretum are on the photo blog if anyone is interested in seeing the magnolias.

I will have a look Ann.Our Magnolia is rubbish this year.It badly needs cutting back.
I have been up since 1,barking like a hoarse dog lowland box of tissues at hand :-S

One thing about not feeling up do doing mush is that I have managed to watch all 3 episodes of Widower :-D :-D

It has been a very dark and extremely windy afternoon here.Some very Gusty wind.
But no rain .just a few spits and spots.

I think folk will be wanting their Roast Dinner.My Son did all the potatoes and veg ,and I said I would get it all in the oven,with some nice sliced Roast Beef in Gravy which I actually cooked the other day and froze.So that has saved a bit of work :-D
I see the Blackbirds are busy feeding on the lawn now :-DSome nice juicy worms I expect.

Kandj(shut your eyes now) we have mice in the garage which is an integral one :-S :-SOH put down 3 little dishes of poison last night and all were empty this morning !!!!!!

:-( :-( :-( poor little mice!

I know Ann.I hate having to kill them off.We used to have the humane traps and then go across the road to let them go in the verge.But the Council chap we had to have for Rats in the garden said that the mice only find their way back lol.So sadly poison it is :-(

Too late Jane. I read about your mice and I'm cringing here and shuddering too. Having them in an integral garage is too near your home for comfort methinks.
I have been in our garage and splashing the peppermint oil around and also shaking cumin powder which I'm told deters the mice. Well it did last year and I hope it does again. My eyes dart around when I go into the garage and touch wood there are no signs of any little furry creatures so please will everybody keep all mice and rats and squirrels in their own places. Hope you feel much better soon Jane.

My eldest sister (81) sold the family home and moved into a lovely bunglow about two years ago. Sally is like me and loves her garden and the variety of birds, so she put up lots of bird feeders and a couple of bird tables and almost bought the village shop out of bird food. Now she is over run with squirrels. (Her bungalow backs on to the village cricket field). The squirrels eat everything is sight and run freely around her garden, tree hopping and digging up all her newly planted bulbs and veg plot. I cringe and duck my head down when I go to see her and hope that the squirrels don't jump from her bungalow roof and land on my head. She now tells me that she has mice underneath the garden shed (uugghh). I exited from the front door and wouldn't risk seeing little mice running around. Sally said if she had a gun, that she would shoot the squirrels...... oh dear! I suggested a water pistol might be a better option as I would hate my lovely big sister to be locked up!

Kandj I think it might be legal to kill grey squirrels.I think I am in right in saying if a Grey one is caught it is illegal to release it again .My friends OH will shoot them.

So your sister would be safe LOL
I am still felling absolutely grotty and I think I will be having to miss my trip to London tomorrow to see the Vikings Exhibition :-(

Aaw Jane, sorry you are still feeling poorly, If it is the same cold/cough I had early March it is a rotten one. What a shame if you have to miss something special too. All I missed was a dentist appointment. :-) Do hope that you feel better soon.

I heard on the radio recently that it was a criminal offence not to report seeing a grey squirrel in your garden, so for years we have all been breaking the law. I have just heard today that the law has just been scrapped as it was impossible to enforce and anyway the squirrels are now so much a part of the wildlife of the country.

You can legally kill a squirrel but it has to be done humanely or you can be fined. Apparently the Forestry Commission recommend catching it in a sack and delivering a blow to its head. Catch it in a sack? What planet are the Forestry Commission living on?

Sorry you are still so poorly Jane and hope you make a quick overnight recovery so that you can get to your Viking Exhibition.

I could never bash an animal over the head (even a R**) I would be so worried I didn't kill it with the first blow.When I had a wild rabbit in the garden with Myxamatosis and could see it it was almost at the end of its life I had to ring a man down the road who very kindly came up and 'did its neck'.He then took it away for me.

I will be gutted to miss this exhibition tomorrow ,but I just can't see me being up to travelling on the train and then being in a very busy and crowded exhibition coughing and spluttering over everyone.My name would be mud lol

I am very happy tonight .My son who has been unemployed for about 15 months has just heard he has a JOB .with a PR company ,starting next week.It was the first interview he had had too in all that time.It is such a relief.
Now he needs new clothes !!!!!!!

Well done your son Jane, so pleased for him, hope all goes well with the job.

Jane, that is wonderful news. Your son must be over the moon and you all will be relieved but very excited too. Cheque book at the ready for the new gear then lol.
I hope that you are feeling a little less grotty, such good news will give you a boost.

Hope that your nasty cold is improving Jane and that you will be feeling less grotty?
No doubt you son will be a happy lad this morning now he is employed once again.

I have Starlings lining up and falling out this morning as I have put strawberries in the window feeder....... a real treat...... meant for us BUT, I left them in the boot of the car and forgot that they were there (senior moment!) and so they are past their best and the greedy Starlings are loving them!

Oh goodness Vera, hitting any animal over the head to kill them is barbaric and I just couldn't do that ever..... mind you I wouldn't be able to get near enough to put them in a sack in the first place, wuss that I am. I run the other way when furry ones are near.

I couldn't hit an animal over the head either. I'd be far too tentative. Done properly it is probably the most humane way as death is instant but you have got to be strong physically and mentally to deliver the right sort of blow.

For many years we had a large pool with Koi. At one stage one of them developed an incurable swim bladder problem and OH took it out of the pond, wrapped it in paper and gave it a hard thwack on the paving stones. The whole operation took about 30 seconds and the poor thing was put out of its misery so it was the right thing to do, but it was horrible to see and even OH was very quiet for the rest of the day.

Jane, I hope you are feeling a lot better today. Great news about your son's new job. Good luck to him.

Jane hope you feel better today.

A good gardening day today.

No different An.I am still hacking away and nose now bunged up to the eyeballs.I'm fed up with it now. :-S.My Son is back from London and said the Viking Exhibition was really good but there were far to many people .I know that it was the same with the Pompeii one.It is a shame really especially when you pay and have an allotted time .It tends to spoil it when you have to push and shove to get to see exhibits.I am still hoping though to get to see the Vikings.
I have no idea what has been going on in the bird department .I have just topped up the feeder and nothing else.But OH is a bit miffed as apparently one of the Squirrels dropped a peanut in between the slatted patio table top and has scratched all the surface trying to retrieve it.He only re stained the table a week or 2 ago ,and now there are great long scratch marks :-S..Guess whose fault that is???? Yes me ,for feeding the birds lol