Hobbies and Crafts

That is hot Ann. It's been a lovely day here but nowhere near as warm as that. I did a few jobs outside this afternoon and I certainly needed a jumper.

I still haven't seen many birds in the garden lately though while I was working outisde there was a blackbird on the roof singing his little heart out. That's got to be one of the loveliest sounds around.

Vera, we also have a regular blackbird which is a joy to hear when he is in full song.

Ann...... I wouldn't like to have cats bringing dead voles....... I have goosebumps just thinking about it. Your daughter is obviously used to her cats and their "presents" to her. We don't own any cats here but I do fill up a dish with milk each day for any of the neighbours cats who come visiting. It is my way of deterring mice from getting into our garage....I have to say that it seems to be working ....... so far, so good.

Jane is back home after a good time in Paris and is sure to be popping in very soon.

Ann, I hope that you have a good journey to Hampshire and enjoy a happy time there with your family. I hope Luke has still got a happy smile to share with you all.

Same birds on the window/ground feeders, a bit boring, but not grumbling really..

Have a lovely weekend Ann.

M.

Here at last ,after a wonderful time in Paris .The weather was perfect except on Monday when the temp reached 28 !!.Now that is to hot for me when tramping around doing the sight seeing things.
Oh Vera what a shame that the itinerary had to be changed on the cruise due to the weather.But I am sure you enjoyed spending some time away with friends.
Maryanna ,what a time you have had :-D :-D.I expect you are just about recovered now from all the celebrations and partying :-D

Ann ,I hope you have a lovely weekend .

One of our Wood Pidgeons has been got :-( :-(..There was a massive pile of feathers on the lawn when we got home from Paris,and there is now one lonely soul .The other pair are still up to 'naughties' on the Summerhouse roof.It's non stop at the moment :-0

Jane, so glad you enjoyed Paris. I am quite jealous, I wish now that we had booked to go to Paris, where we had our honeymoon, instead of Scotland.

We are off next weekend, this is our anniversary holiday but we had to wait until half term before we could go.

Just about recovered from our two busy weekends although I could do with a lay in. We had the wee one all last weekend, she gets up around 5.30, then it was back to work and we have now had her for the second night as Mummy is feeling rather weary. I really didn't want to wake up at 5om this morning, because it was " light already !!!!!" Especially as Teddy and Dolly wanted to jump on my head.

Maybe tomorrow I will be allowed to sleep.

Kandj, we had the last of the cake yesterday, after all last weekends eating it is salad from now on for me !!!

Sometimes I am really glad we no longer have a cat. Two of ours were great hunters. One in particular brought us a present every single morning and left it on the kitchen mat. She lived to be sixteen...... You name it, she brought it in at some point or another. Her brother wasn't so clever, he would only catch something very rarely and even then it might be a crisp packet or a leaf.

Whenever I think not much is happening bird wise I realise I have just got used to it all going on. The two lots of wood pigeons, still getting fatter and fatter, I expect the young ones to appear before too long. Apart from the Magpies I haven't as yet, seen any baby birds. I can hear some Starlings in next doors soffit boards, they make a right racket when Mum or Dad pop through the hole to feed them, makes a change from the Jackdaws she had in her chimney last year.

Loads of sparrows around so maybe some of them are young, although they don't look terribly fluffy. Blackbirds, blue tits, Robins, rooks and thrush still regular visitors, with the Red Kite, Buzzards and Swifts all overhead.

Lots of bees around too, they love the Aquilegias.

M.

Jane so pleased that you had a good time in Paris, fine weather makes such a difference. It poured with rain thursday for the whole of our journey here, yesterday wa cloudy but dry, today has been sunny and warm when sheltered from the cold wind but we have managed a couple of long walks today along by the sea. My vivofit has totalled it at five miles today so not bad. Yesterday we took the ferry across to Portsmouth and went to Gunwharf Quays shopping centre and spent money.

Maryanna, hope you can have a lie in tomorrow. You will need your anniversary break.

Tomorrow we go to see Luke on our way home.

5 miles Ann....Brilliant :-D...I should be doing that !.I keep telling myself "I will go for a walk" but somehow I never get to do it.

Maryanna ,where are you off to? You might have said but `i might have missed it.

I am off to Plymouth on Friday with my Daughter for 3 nights.Visiting my parents grave,to give it a good clean and tidy up and visit a couple of old friends.It has been so long since I was down there.I have a feeling the M5 traffic could be horrendous with it being a B/H Weekend :-S :-S

Start early Jane. Traffic will be bad. I lashed out on a vivofit2 which records your steps and mileage and does encourage you to walk. Daughter had one and talked me into it. However need to do a few more steps now as we have just had a meal at one of the local pubs here. Always strange to us eating out in the evenings as we usually eat out at lunch times. Feels quite grown up.

We will Ann.I have spent years stuck in traffic jams on the M5 (especially around the Bristol area) when I was going up and down to Plymouth visiting home.
I might just look up the vivofit thingy :-D

Still a lot of coming and going here. I hope that you all enjoy your breaks and that the weather improves and is at least dry for everyone while they are on holiday.

I have managed to do a little more weeding and planted new rose bushes today. Tried to find the energy to go out in the garden and then stayed out too long and already have the aches and pains to prove it.

I have had a friendly little Robin who has been near to me a lot. It was really interesting to be able to observe it at close quarter. I need to washout the window feeder in the morning as the Starlings have used it as a "convenience" ggrrrrr!!!

We also had a dead pigeon on the back lawn while you were away in Paris Jane.
Thankfully the paper boy kindly cleared up the feathers and mess for me (as I am such a wuss haha). Perhaps your pigeon could fly this way and keep our pigeon company as it looks a lonely sorry soul on its own now.

Vera, is your blackbird still serenading you from the rooftops? A joy to hear his song

Maryanna, perhaps you should have saved some of your cake for a midnight feast with teddy and dolly?? Enjoy Scotland.... you should have plenty lay-ins there.

I can visualize one little toddler with a happy smiling face, chasing after the bubbles tomorrow Ann. Have fun and enjoy your time (and hugs) with Luke. Well done with the Vivofit2 fitness tracker. I am impressed. Carry on the good work!

I can't believe that someone who woke up at 5am could spend most of the day running up and down the garden with a bottle of bubbles ( another one Ann!) shouting " look at me Grannie" and still, apparently , as mummy tells me, be up at 6 am this morning, quite a lie in for her !!!

We are going to Loch Lomond, Jane.

M.

I have to warn everyone, we usually go away at spring half term, either here or abroad.

It always rains. No matter where we are, it tips down.

So get your rain coats and brollys ready for the week after next.

I shall be packing thermals and Welles. !!!

M.

Hopefully this year will be different Maryanna :-D :-D..Blue skies all round would be just perfect wouldn't it.How lovely ..Loch Lomand..The scenery!!.I am sure whatever the weather you will have a great Anniversary Holiday :-D :-D..But yes we have to pack for any kind of weather don't we..This is why our blooming suitcases are so heavy :-S :-S :-D
Oh Kandj wouldn't it be nice if our 2 lonely Pidgeons could get together.Maybe we should set up a Lonely Hearts club especially for Wood Pidgeons :-D
There are so many Robins here .At least 4 ,but possibly 5.All wanting to get on the feeder at the same time !!!..There is quite a commotion at times :-S

Washed and refilled the window feeder after the Starlings nasty habits!! They are very aggressive and it's a wonder that the window feeder doesn't come crashing down with their fighting.

Maryanna, my fingers are crossed that you will enjoy good weather in Scotland for a change this year.
If you take your umbrella and wellies then that alone should bring the sun out ha ha.

Yes Jane, it would be good to pair our two lonely pigeons up. This one here looks a sorry sight indeed.

Well this afternoon I had a very young Pidgeon on the Patio.All fluffy feathered :-D Not long fledged .The Adult was keeping a close eye on it.I wonder if it is the Single parent!!
The birds seem to have been feeding like crazy today from the window feeder.I have filled it twice.(I know the Squirrel visited earlier too).The food tray is much deeper than the last one and when it is almost empty the birds look like they are doing a head stand in the feeder LOL

I put a full line of bedding/towels out earlier and now it looks as if its going to rain....
hey ho...... just what I could do without!

I was a little late in filling the feeders this morning and had a row of birds (sparrow, blackbird, starlings and pigeon) on the wall waiting to be fed. So funny to see, almost as if they were thinking "Are we going to be fed today?" I must find the time to make the fat bird seedcake, that is a treat all birds enjoy and its good entertainment for us.

According to the forecast Bank Holiday weekend is meant to be good, so that will be nice for Maryanna and Jane. Hope you enjoy yourselves and have safe travels.

Are you back home Ann or have you stayed over in Hampshire? Perhaps you are out walking clocking up the miles on your new tracker?

Jane if you think of getting a vivofit make sure to get the vivofit2, it is the newest one and better apparently than the older version.

Maryanna have a great weekend, like you it usually rains when we are away, but it is usually fine at home when we are away too so double aggravating.

It is the tall ships festival in Gloucester this weekend so everywhere will be crowded as it attracts an enormous number of people. It is usually good so we shall leave the car at home and get the bus there. Then may go to the flea fair in Malvern at the weekend.

Kandj we came home on Sunday. Have just done the weekly shop, it always used to be quiet on Tuesdays but the last couple of weeks it has been really busy. Always lots reduced on Tuesdays for some reason so got a couple of things to put in the freezer. :-) :-)

photos of our weekend on the blog.

I was just standing on the Patio and heard the Squawk of a Crow.(when they chase a Red Kite).WELL, the Crow nearly brought a Kite down in the garden.I almost ducked as they were so low !!!!!!.Normally they are quite high up.But this was quite hair raising. it was probably just about 15ft above me !!!!

some pics on the blue tits progress, I was awake at 530 this morning, half expecting them to be off, but as yet they are still here, at 19 days old not sure how many ARE here, the last actual head count I had was 9.

there is SO much pushing n shoving and jostling for position....AND ME ME ME when the food trolley comes flying in


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