Seasons are a changing too.

Hi Folks

Yup, it's really me.  Sorry that I've been missing for (quite) a while again.

We've certainly had some wonderful weather this Summer and it looks like Autumn is continuing to be good.

Earlier this month, I finally had a break  - four years on!  It was only a Monday - Friday one, but oh my I NEEDED it!

We went to New Romney in Kent.  The weather was absolutely fabulous.  Our dear daughter and her partner came along too.  A wonderful time was had by all :o)

New Romney is only a mile or so away from Dungeness (England's only desert) the most atmospheric place I have visited in the UK.  It's a favourite area, and it's been some years since we were there last.  I'm delighted to say that the place had hardly changed at all.

I celebrated (another) birthday while we were there.

Derek Jarmans Garden - Prospect Cottage.

When we went to Hythe - another of my favourite places. A place we've been to many times before however, I'd never noticed this ancient plaque set into a wall leading to a church before.

We also visited Winchelsea - a lovely village.  We visited Spike Milligans grave in the beautiful, ancient churchyard.

There was quite a few folk paying respects to Spike, a man that has given laughter to millions.

* * *

I realise that I'm changing as I grow older - in mind as well as body!  I hardly buy any 'bargains' these days, and I'm far happier taking things TO the charity shop.  Quite a change eh?

I'm still very involved with the delightful little prickly creatures that visit our garden each night, and of course the rescue centre, who are invaluable.  My interest in wildlife photography is deepening, and if I get the chance I escape for a few hours with my camera for a little 'me' time.

I've just upgraded my camera, from a Panasonic Lumix FZ38 to a Panasonic Lumix FZ72, which I took out yesterday afternoon for it's first memorable outing to the nearby outstanding beauty of Cannock Chase.  I was very happy trying to get to know the camera settings and taking various shots.

Male Pheasant

Male Chaffinch

Fallow deer (mother and child) crossing the road

Then, a truly magical thing happened.  I had been taking images of some birds from the car when looked up, and there, right in front of the car was a fox.  He walked around, and came to the water dishes (that someone leaves out) for a long, long drink. 

I was smiling for hours afterwards :o)

(Made me think of the lovely Snowbird with her rescue foxes.)

I'd taken some other photos over the last few weeks, here's a few.

Juvenile green woodpecker with a crow looking on.

Robin

Sadly, I also missed some good shots of a rare Summer visitor to this area, 

the red backed shrike.  I kept seeing the little blighter but it was always just out of a clear shot, except the only time I hadn't got the camera ready!

* * *

So it looks like when I do get around to making a post it stands a very good chance it's going to involve wildlife!

* * *

On other matters....

I'm still my Mothers only carer as she will not budge and allow me to get help, though I have recently joined the local carers association.  I attended my first meeting this week - they seem a lovely bunch, and I'm certain they will be a great support network for me.

Hope to be back soon as time allows.  I do still pop in and out to visit you - thought I admit to rarely leaving comments, shame on me :o(

Best wishes to all you lovely folk out there.

x x x

Oh! just thought of a quick P.S.

(Than will probably make you smile)

I love runner beans and I always manage to get some in the garden. This year I've been overrun with the dreaded slugs, and as you know I would NEVER use slug pellets, and the little buggers had a go at my beans.  I had read that coffee grounds are a good deterrent, so when I saw some on offer at McDonalds for a £2 charity donation I snapped them up.  However, when I saw that the bag of grounds was HUGE (around 20 pounds in weight!) I wondered if I'd done the right thing.  

As soon as I unloaded them from the car I put a good, thick layer around the beans thinking that'd sort 'em out.  Little did I know that the caffeine woke the little buggers up and instead of just having a quick munch during the hours of darkness they were at it all day.  By the next morning all I had left was one solitary flower! :o(  It's the first year I haven't had the delights of home grown beans as I pit the remaining stems and roots into the compost heap.  Take that as a lesson folks!

Anyone out there know of a good use for coffee grounds?**

**Thanks to Vintage Jane here's a good link - just don't believe the bit about slugs ;)

xx

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!

Bits of this and bits of that.

Hello folks!  Hope you are all well.

Firstly, I'd like to say a big hello and welcome to my new followers (waves) it's great to see new faces here, and though my posting is somewhat intermittent I hope you enjoy them!
(I do try to contact you personally, but sometimes there isn't a link I can use.)

The weather has been lovely for the past couple of weeks and there has been a lot of catching up on jobs going on here at home.  There have been visits to the doctors with Mom - still no news of when the Memory Clinic will FINALLY be in touch, but again they've been chased up.  She is in much the same condition with her memory (or, lack of it!) and the battle continues as to weather or not daily tablets have been taken :o(

Life seems to pass by in a whirl with no time to sit and enjoy...anyway, I have managed to find a few bargains.  It's been so long since I found them I've forgotten the cost, but I do know that none were over £3 (and I think Mom has problems!)

There was this dear mirror mosaic bird which stands around 4" tall

and

A Portmierion candlestick

Surprisingly, I found some Willow Pattern too ;o)

This 4" high sugar bowl (?) without a lid, soon to be filled with a small plant.

and finally..

You know I love glass...

A stained glass window hanger around 6" diameter,

and yes I do remember it cost me £1.50.

* * *

We have been feeding/caring for our hedgehogs as always, and we are having on average six visiting each night - and have had as many as eight!  I'm afraid I have been remiss and not took many photos, but here's one I thought you may like.

She (Mavis) peeping round one of my compost bins.

All of the released hogs are visiting, and Archie is the one that comes every night...we hear his loud snuffling long before we see him!

The Bark butter I make for the birds is gobbled up in record time, especially by the starlings - BUT I do have a warning for you should you decide to make it too...

I have a sneaky feeling that it contains some sort of Starling Viagra, as last Sunday morning I was woken up early (5.35am) by the sound of loud, raucous birds calling and chattering in the garden.  I decided to get up as it was SO loud, and greeting my eyes when I opened he blinds were SEVENTEEN young starlings and their parents - all tucking in to the bark butter!  It was not unlike Hitchcock's The Birds ;o) 

Here are just a few I managed to snap a few days later..

Of course, what comes with having so many birds visiting the garden?

This is two days worth :o(

UGH!  You should(n't) see some of the plants...

Plans are afoot though, the bench has to be rebuilt as a lot of the wood has rotted, once done I have a cover for it so that we can always find a clean seat!   The chair (2nd photo) has totally had it and is bound for the tip!

The house martins have finally arrived :o)  We thought they were going to build a nest at the apex of the roof, but it wasn't to be.  Here they are checking it out though.

They have nested on quite a few of the houses in the Crescent, so we can still enjoy their aerobatic swoops over the garden as they feed :o)

I also have frequent visits by a couple of Jackdaws who are certainly camera shy, I did however manage to get a couple of shots off the other morning through the bedroom window.

but it looks like this one is suffering from Avian Pox like the Great Tit I used to have visiting :o(

I shall report it to the RSPB as requested.

* * *

I'm glad to say that the resident Frogs are back in the pond.  I have had some (huge) problems with the dreaded Blanket Weed, but have discovered a natural killer that works without harming the pond life.  Cloverleaf Blanket Answer and then followed up with Pure Pond soft bio-degradable balls placed inside the filter once the water had cleared, both products were recommended by the aquatics centre I use .  I will add the products to my new 'Recommended by me'  page.

* * *

There have been lovely, warm evening when we've 'escaped' for a few hours over Cannock Chase

(just 4 miles from our home) and spotted some wildlife...

Sika Deer

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer

A lonesome Rabbit

The best view I could get of a (rarely seen around here) Jay.

I cannot tell you how much I enjoy these trips, they soothe the soul.

Well, that's it folks!   All for now.

Best wishes

xxx

P.S.

Thank you for all your comments, I do love to receive them and read them all :o)

New additions

Hi folks, once again I apologise for my lack of posts.  Last time I mentioned that I was going to release another two hedgehogs from the local hedgehog rescue centre.   

You probably know that I have already built and installed three hedgehog houses into the garden, but because two of them were already inhabited I'd decided to build a fourth one :o)

(I really should make a plan of them in case any of you would like to make one too.)

Anyway, here is the completed house.

It has been placed at the side of the conservatory (as this is the only place left to fit one in!)

Joan arrived with two boxes of precious cargo on the 6th May, and I transferred the two ladies into my own (cat) carriers so that they were secure until darkness fell.  They were then put into the darkened laundry until the evening came and I could release them into the world.  They had both been hand reared and didn't really have much knowledge of the outside world.  As you know I name all the hogs I release and of course these little girls have names to, so may I introduce the two little wrigglers:

Mavis

(who now sports a white spot on each side)

and her buddy

Myrtle
(who has an inverted 'T' on her behind)

Little Myrtle again.

Once darkness came I placed each one into a new home, and waited for them to pluck up the courage to come out and investigate.  Mavis was the bravest, and was out and about devouring food within five minutes, Myrtle however was a little more shy and it was around 30 minutes before she came out to investigate.

Here's Mavis

Just about to hoover up the pile of mealworms.

(Sorry the shot is out of focus)

Since then Mavis has been a regular in the garden, either by over-nighting and also feeding.

Myrtle must have ranged further away as I've only seen her twice since release.

Archie is also a regular, and likes the ladies ;o)

You can probably, just make out his stripe - he's the hog on the left, the other one I've called Spotty as he has a lighter spot on his right bum cheek.  They met up in the feeding box.

I've started to keep a log of each hog I see, and also the over-nighters sleeping in the boxes.

It appears we have a neon 'Travelhog' sign placed by the gate, visible to hedgehogs only!  They seem to spend a night or two in one box, then disappear for another couple of nights when another moves in, in it's place.  Some nights, like last night all the boxes were empty.  It's amusing me no-end :o)

Here's another few visitors...I wonder if Wilfrid, Winifrid or May (some of last years releases) are amongst them?  I'm afraid I no longer have any way of knowing as their paint marks would have long since rubbed off.

Who ever they are, they're in good condition :o)

* * *

I have been amusing myself this afternoon trying to get shots of Mommy and Daddy Robin as they frantically flit in and out of the nest feeding their brood.  We have no idea how many little ones there are as the ivy has now covered the hole completely.   Here are the better shots.

I was trying to get an 'action' in flight shot, sadly this is the best I could do:

and if you think that's bad, this was the worst!

So, help need please.  Some of you have the MOST astounding photographs of animals in action shots, come on - HOW DO YOU DO IT?  I use a Panasonic FZ38 set onto outdoor sport mode.  I've tried other settings but to no avail, can anybody point me in the right direction please?

Well, I truly hope I'm not boring you to death with my very own 'Nature Watching'.

I'll be back again as soon as I'm able, again please forgive me not visiting and commenting too often   I'm really missing visiting you, but some days I don't even get around to switching on the laptop at all.

Sending my very best wishes to you all.

x x