Thought I'd better check in again.

Hi folks, yes - it's really me!

I'd like to thank sincerely, those of you who have contacted me, concerned that I was okay.

I hope that you are all still out there, and haven't lost interest during my absence - and of course all is well with you.

Time flies and I can hardly believe that it's been four months since I last posted.

I'd lie if I said it hadn't been a stressful four months with various things going on, and as you can imagine my Mother has been at the centre of a lot of it.  Her dementia continues to run it's course, she is still refusing any outside help and so I continue to go each day with her meds and to make sure that her beautiful cat Teddy is fed - she forgets otherwise.

We've had other problems in the family, and I admit that there's been a black dog following me around for a while, which is the main reason for my low profile.  I feel that I'm gaining a better hold though now and my face doesn't seem to leak as much - thank goodness.  I have visited blogs a couple of times a week, though I know I've missed a lot that's been going on.

Anyway, that's enough of that.  Updates on my sweet little prickly friends.

Since I posted Juvenile Hedgehogs  way back in November, I captured a further five underweight juveniles the following night, making a total of NINE!  Poor Joan was overwhelmed with these and many more that came into the rescue centre.

One of the 200 - 250g hogs

Two more

Double decked carriers waiting overnight in the laundry with the five hogs inside.

I also had another two brought to me by neighbours who were found in daylight, but sadly neither of them made it.

Joan kept my nine (!) and fed them up over the Winter, but again sadly two of those didn't make it either.  BUT the seven that did make it were released back into the garden in late March and early April during the mild weather we were having.  The hedgehog boxes in the garden were waiting for them :o)  They all came back like fat footballs, five of them weighed in at over a kilo!

The first three paint marked and ready for freedom :o)

The big bruiser - the heaviest one.

I'm pleased to report that they've ALL prospered and were joined by at least three of last years adults.  I continue to feed and look out for them.

Oh, I almost forgot - a few weeks after release I awoke one morning to find one (very large one)  feeding in the garden, and I knew that wasn't right.  I weighed it and it seemed to be okay but it wasn't curling up, but after speaking to Joan we decided that she'd better take him in to check over.  His eyes appeared to be bright and there was nothing apparently wrong.  He was wormed and given a dose of antibiotics, then after a night at the rescue centre was released again.  Joan's only comment was that he was very randy!  So we put his daylight hours down to keeping his strength up ;o) and I decided to christen him Dick!  BUT the following day a neighbour came round and said that there was a very large paint marked hedgehog in her garden looking for food.  When I checked it was Dick.  I contacted Joan again, and after much discussion I checked his eyes again - still clear and bright.  Joan asked me to put my finger towards his eyes - he didn't flinch at all.  So off he went again back to the rescue centre.  He was certainly blind, and even though Joan had over wintered him it wasn't apparent at all, and we wondered if something had happened since his release?  He couldn't be returned to the wild as his life would be in danger without sight. 

Happily though Joan has some very good contacts, a few of them have very large, enclosed gardens in which disabled or blind hogs can live safely and happily.  A retired farmer who lives near to us both offered (the now re-named) Dead-eyed Dick a permanent home in his walled garden.  We both went along to release him into his new home.  Here he is settling into his new home.

a corner of Dead-eyed Dick's new garden.

The good news is that he has settled in well and there is also a young three legged lady hedgehog living there, so you never know there could be some little babies this Summer :o)  We're all just hoping they have four legs and are not carrying white sticks ;o)

I'll be back again with more in the next week or two.

Sending love and best wishes

She peeps round the corner...

Hello, is there anybody out there?  I'm hoping so as I've been away SO LONG. 
  

Admission time.  Dear Hubs got me up and running again with parts from a second hand laptop some time ago, but life got in the way and it's rarely been turned on.  We've had such a wonderful Summer that the days have simply whizzed by and I'd not realised it's been nearly two months since I posted.
There have been some problems of course, things that I don't feel I can discuss here just yet, because they all involve Mom - but thank goodness most of them have been overcome - for the moment anyway.

* * *

I've had a birthday - my 57th (aaargh)  

Mom still doesn't realise she forgot it :o(

* * *

There have been hedgehogs of course, lots of them giving us great joy - every night :o) 

I've made a couple of new videos for you to see.

(The nature camera is rigged up for 25 second videos with a 5 second delay before filming again, so the videos can seem to 'jump' a little - I really need to find out how to edit them properly...)

Here are the links - do you think I can remember how to put them on here? I'm an eejit!

Hog watching

Awakening from hog box #4

(I'm trying to source a power lead for the camera though as videos are eating up 8 x Duracell AA batteries up at an alarming rate.)

We have one small, visiting juvenile - a worry at time of year and so far an impossibility to capture it, I'm sure it's related to Lewis Hamilton as it's SO SPEEDY ;o) one crunch on the gravel and it's gone.  Here it is.

the bigger picture - spot the hog.

I've also had an amazing surprise from the nature camera, a visiting fox cub!  Sadly problems with uploading the next day lost the two videos - but I now have some software that could possibly find them again - fingers crossed!

* * *

I attended West Midland Hedgehog Rescues  fundraiser event on the 07th September.  Joan raised an amazing £897.59 during the event, which will be a great help over winter as she is self funded.   Joan told me that she has had very few monetary donations over the last twelve months, so if you have a wildlife/hedgehog rescue centre nearby how about sending them a donation to help out?

* * *

Then there was a bit of painting and improving.  Remember this?

Well now it looks like this!

The hanging baskets filled out nicely.

Much better!

We had another visit from a Sparrow Hawk

No casualties this time though.

Taken from the bedroom window, a bit dull as it was early morning and in the shade.

* * *

Five (pampered) tomato plants in the greenhouse have been a disappointment - as I'm still having to buy tomatoes!  The runner beans aren't exactly cropping lots either, I went out veg hunting one evening and came back with one runner bean and one finger sized courgette (zucchini) good job I have fat reserves - at that rate I'd fade away!

* * *

I managed a wonderful day out with George's Mom to Walcott (Ooops! That should have been)Wollerton Old Hall Garden private Gardens in Shropshire but that's a whole other post!  

They even had a resident hedgehog ;o)

and a preview ...

(Which somehow missed off my original post)

* * *

I've added another face to the garden - a charity shop find of course!  And you know I like weird things of course ;o)

* * *

Well, I think that'll do for now.  I hope you have had an excellent Summer.  Next time Walcott Gardens.

Sending you my very best wishes.

x x x

Oh!  Just a thought...what happened with Blogger Reader?  My list still seems to be there - did I miss an important announcement or was it all just hype?  Anyway, I registered with Bloglovin' too!

A few changes. (Long post)

Hello folks, I'm finally posting after what seems like months.

For those of you in the UK you know we are in the middle of a heatwave - I don't function too well in the heat!

* * *

Hello to my new followers!  Hope you stick around even though I'm not posting too regularly.

Then, thank you again for all the wonderful, supportive comments I've received.  I truly do appreciate them - you're a wonderful lot!

* * *

There's been a lot going on.  Further to Mom's assessment (last post) I received a copy of the report.  There were three large inaccuracies in it.  Firstly it stated that she 'was unable to hold a pen' - Mom had held the pen and written a legible sentence when asked.  He'd also stated that she was 'unable to handle money' - This subject had not been broached when he asked Mom if she shopped on her own, she has no problems with this at all.  Then, thirdly he's started a paragraph with 'Mary lives alone.  Florence has no insight into her problems' and went on to describe Florence's other problems.  I wrote to the Memory Service nurse pointing out the inaccuracies (I hand posted it, sending a copy to  Mom's doctor).  I received no reply and have had to chase it up.  Finally, yesterday I received a reply stating that they use a template that should have been blank before typing.  Even though it had been checked before sending out these problems hadn't been noticed!  Gives you a lot of faith in them eh?

Just had to add this photo of my first cherries ripening - looking forward to tasting them :o)
As the next photo was featured for my post (How off-putting.)

Do you recall the garden bench covered in bird poo? (Ugh, shudder.)

Well, it's had a bit of a facelift..

The metal frame was made by my maternal Grandfather as a wedding gift to Grandma (in 1914)

So it's almost an antique!  I've painted it with smooth Hammerite paint, and we've put new seat and backrest boards on.  These have had three coats of Ronseal  Woodland colours 'Bluebell' wood treatment.  I need to paint the table now, along with...

The new arbour seat :o)  When it cools down I shall paint it with the same bluebell colour outside, and ash white inside.

Do you remember the bug boxes I put up on the new fence?  This morning we've discovered that some Leafcutter bees have found the tubes :o)  I'm really pleased about this as the garden MUST be BEE FRIENDLY!

I've added a Cedar wood Lacewing Box too.  I followed the instructions and stuffed it with straw after smearing lacewing attractant on it.

It's quite large and was a bargain from Amazon.

* * *

One of my neighbours had put out a water feature for the scrap/rubbish man to collect.  I have a small pebble pool in the back garden that we rarely use as the water reservoir below ground is rectangular and the returning water 'misses' so it emptied quickly.  I thought the bottom part of the feature would be better, so asked if I could have it.  It turned out that it all worked and they were just altering the layout of the garden.  It wouldn't have been my choice in a garden centre - but for free? 

;o)

Nice and weathered - it'll do for me!

* * *

On the wildlife front.

Hedgehogs GALORE!  We had ten in the garden the other night, a three, a four and a two.  All different ones.

The other evening I 'captured' one to mark it.  Meet Ted.

Yes, leather gloves were required - a VERY prickly character ;o)

* * *

I've been toying with buying a Wildlife camera, and finally decided to plump for

The Bushnell Natureview HD (The link takes you to Wildlife Kate's site, please take a look around while you're there.)  Kate has been on BBC's Springwatch, and gave them the idea for the mouse cave.

I'm still playing around trying to get the settings right, and the place to set it up, but here are some of the results.  (Date/time bottom right)

Juvenile Starling

Female Blackbird

Over-exposed Hogs :o(

Once I get the settings sussed I can do videos too.

* * *

The border in the back garden continues to 'fill out''!

(Blue Strawberry planter continues to disappoint, no good for strawberries and as far as I can see little use for anything else!)

* * *

Well, I've waffled on again for too long.  So I'll sign off now - I REALLY need to visit some of you!

Best wishes

xXx

Memory Clinic appointment.

Thank you all for your concern over my Mom, I appreciate you kind, supportive comments and emails very much :o)

Here's a quick update on Mom's appointment/assessment today at the Memory Clinic.  

(Mom )"Where did you say we had to go today?" !

Mom was not impressed practically from the start though when the (male)  specialist nurse read out the referral letter from her Doctor...saying about her memory problems, aggression and difficulty remembering relatives.  (I wondered if it would have been a better idea to start on a different area, or even with a female nurse?) Anyway, there was a lot of repeating words, like 'lemon, ball and key'. He then asked a few more questions before returning back to them and asking Mom to repeat those words - most of the time she couldn't.

He then went onto ask what 100 minus 7 equalled, minus 7 and again a further 5 or 6 times, Mom passed this with flying colours.

They asked her to identify nine different simple line drawings, she recognised all of them, but couldn't remember what they were called (penguin, camel, anchor, crocodile and basket) but she knew the queen wears a crown! The specialist nurse asked me some difficult to answer questions (in front of Mom) for example about her aggression....Mom was NOT pleased with my reply, I think the nurse got the gist of it though!

It lasted for just over half an hour, and was mostly relaxed with no pressure put on her, and he even told her at one point (when she was particularly pissed with me for being too honest,) that she could end the test and leave at any time! The outcome is that Mom is right on the edge of Dementia...(goodness knows how bad this'll get then?) The suggestion was to make an appointment to see a specialist who could advise further, and/or to make a follow up appointment to check if there is any progression in six months time. 

 Mom has (of course) flatly refused ANY further appointments. The Nurse said I could contact him if anything changes, seems like I may well be :o(

Rose H

x

I missed my blog birthday! (Or, a mixed bag)

Hello folks, I'm back (again) too many things going on in real life at the moment, most days I'm trying hard to be organised ;o)

Well, my three years blog birthday WAS on the 20th January and I missed it....never mind eh?

I've been trying to sort out things with and for my Mom and her memory problems and worsening depression. We've seen the doctor and he's been absolutely fantastic and reassuring for us both.  (I went on my own first to tell him what had been happening as it's difficult to be completely honest when she's there), and then took Mom back on the same day for her appointment.  He knew what questions to ask, and when she got a little tearful he asked if I could answer on her behalf, bless him.  Referrals and appointments have been made for the 'Memory Service' to interview Mom at her home to diagnose and suggest how they can help, her anti-depressant medication has been upped and he is also recommending some counselling which will be arranged once the Memory Service have had their interview.  Today I've taken Mom to have some bloods taken for further assessment in case there is any underlying problems.  Initially Mom seemed please that the ball was rolling, but of course that's all very changeable along with her moods...We discussed sorting out a home help over Christmas and that was okay at the time, but when I bought up the subject again last week she hit the roof and wouldn't discuss it - I'll have to bide my time again it seems.

Anyway, that's enough of that.

I have of course found time to dally a while in the charity shop, and though I've mostly been buying books (I'm an avid reader) I've been 'trying' NOT to get carried away with purchases.  Of course, by now you know I'm a sucker for blue and white!  When I visited last Thursday my eyes were drawn to this gorgeous Wedgwood underglazed pearlware 'Fallow Deer' decoration tray 

18" x 10".

It was a hefty £12.50 but I loved it SO much :o)

The original pattern was used by the Rogers Pottery from Longton, Stoke on Trent sometime during it's 1784-1842 lifetime.  The pattern was taken up by Josiah Wedgwood in the late 19th century.  According to the impressed 'Wedgwood' mark it was produced sometime between 1909 and 1928.  It's sitting happily on my dresser now.

As you probably know we cancelled Christmas, no decorations and no tree, so I thought I'd brighten up a corner for Valentines Day this year.   So earlier this afternoon I dug out all my 

 heart shaped baubles and pretty little birds and did this...

It stands around 2.5 feet in total.  Hubs has come home and not even noticed it!

And finally...

I've been trying (in vein) to photograph a rare visitor to my garden, the amazingly beautiful Goldfinch.  We visited my Sister in law the other weekend and what was on her feeders?  Yes, glorious Goldfinches!  I got some snaps of those instead :o) Though I'm still trying to get them at home!

That's it for now.  

Best wishes to all